A man who had caused serious injuries to two victims with a machete has been sentenced to seven and a half years in jail.
After being granted a suspension on specific conditions, he will only serve a reduced sentence of four years and six months in prison.
Tevita Matangi, 32, was found guilty of one count of causing grievous bodily harm to Mateaki Hafoka.
He was also found guilty of one count of causing grievous bodily harm to Sikuvea Fifita.
The court was told that an altercation involving the machete broke out among the trio at a residence in Talau.
At one stage, Matangi, armed with the machete, attacked Hafoka and Fifita.
Hafoka was injured while he was trying to disarm Matangi.
They struggled and his arm was struck by the machete before he could reach Matangi’s hands, the court was told.
Fifita, who received the more severe injuries while he also attempted to remove the machete from Matangi, collapsed before he was rushed to Vava’u’s Ngu hospital.
He was later transferred to Vaiola Hospital in Tongatapu.
Justice Bishop suspended Matangi’s final three years of his sentence on the following conditions:
a) not commit any offence punishable by imprisonment;
b) report to the probation office within 48 hours of his release from prison and thereafter as required by his probation officer;
c) complete a course on alcohol, drug awareness and life skills as directed by his probation officer.
“Failure to comply with the said conditions may result in the suspension being rescinded, in which case, the Defendant will be required to complete the balance of his prison term.
“Subject to compliance with the above conditions and any remissions available under the Prisons Act, the Defendant will be required to serve 4 years and 6 months in prison”.
