Nuku’alofa — The Supreme Court of Tonga has sentenced Samisoni Toliseli to seven years’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to two counts of causing grievous bodily harm in a machete attack on his partner and her daughter.
The sentence was delivered by Lord Chief Justice Bishop KC, who described the offending as extremely serious and emphasised that violence against women, particularly in domestic settings, “will not be tolerated and strong punishment must follow.”
According to the court, the incident occurred after a night of heavy drinking between Toliseli and the first victim, a 51‑year‑old woman with whom he was in a relationship.
An argument broke out, during which Toliseli attempted to strangle her and threw her to the ground. Her daughter, aged 21, rushed to help after hearing her mother’s cries.
Toliseli then armed himself with a machete. He first struck the daughter, who raised her arm to protect herself, causing a serious fracture of her right ulnar bone.
He then turned on the mother, repeatedly striking her with the machete and causing life‑threatening injuries, including an open skull fracture, deep lacerations, and multiple broken bones. Both victims required urgent medical attention.
Long‑Term Impact on Victims
The mother underwent surgery and has lost the ability to continue her weaving work, her main source of income. The daughter, who was in her final year of nursing studies, has had to suspend her training and continues to experience pain, reduced arm movement, and emotional trauma.
She told the court she fears the offender’s return and hopes the sentence reflects the severity of the lasting harm.
Toliseli changed his plea to guilty on 26 November 2025. The court acknowledged his apology to the first victim and his expressed intention to offer compensation, which contributed to certain sentence reductions.
However, Justice Bishop noted Toliseli’s history of violent offending and previous assault convictions, stating that such behaviour required firm judicial response.
The court applied separate sentences for each count:
- Count 1 (mother): 4 years’ imprisonment
- Count 2 (daughter): 5 years’ imprisonment
Of the second sentence, 3 years will be served consecutively, and 2 years concurrently, resulting in a total of 7 years’ imprisonment. The final 2 years are suspended for 3 years on strict conditions, including probation supervision, participation in alcohol and drug programs, and compliance with all laws.
In delivering the sentence, Justice Bishop reiterated the court’s firm stance: domestic violence — especially involving weapons like machetes — will attract significant prison terms.
Toliseli must report to the Probation Office within 24 hours of release and comply with all conditions or risk serving the balance of his sentence.
