Nuku’alofa, Tonga — A woman has sustained life-altering injuries following a brutal machete attack that the Lord Chief Justice condemned as intolerable violence against women. The incident, which occurred after a night of heavy drinking, left the victim with a fractured skull and severe arm damage, while disrupting her daughter’s nursing education.
Samisoni Toliseli, 51, received a five-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm. The ruling came on February 4 at the Supreme Court of Tonga, where Toliseli changed his plea to guilty late last year.
The court heard testimony detailing the violent confrontation between Toliseli and his partner, Hu’avai Vaokakala, 51. During the fight, Toliseli attempted to strangle Vaokakala and subsequently threw her to the ground. When their 21-year-old daughter, Pelelina Vaokakala, intervened, Toliseli turned on her with a machete, inflicting significant injuries.
The Lord Chief Justice noted the severity of the attack. He explained that while the daughter raised her arm to protect herself, she sustained a serious injury that left her arm permanently damaged. Vaokakala herself suffered multiple traumatic injuries, including a skull fracture that required surgery, effectively ending her ability to weave traditional Tongan mats, a key source of her income.
Despite her physical trauma, Vaokakala has publicly expressed forgiveness toward Toliseli and has received communications from him expressing remorse and an intention to provide compensation. However, the court emphasized that no level of remorse could mitigate the gravity of his actions.
Pelelina Vaokakala’s injuries have significantly impacted her final year at Tonga National University, where she had been pursuing a three-year advanced diploma in nursing. The injury requires extensive rehabilitation, and she continues to grapple with nightmares and emotional distress from the attack. She has expressed fear about Toliseli’s potential return to the community after his release.
The prosecution argued for a stringent sentence, highlighting the brutal nature of the offense and the weapon used in the attack. Lord Chief Justice Malcolm Bishop made it clear that domestic violence would not be tolerated in Tonga and that strong punitive measures would follow such assaults.
In deciding on the sentence, the court established a starting point of seven years for the first count of grievous bodily harm. However, taking into account Toliseli’s expressions of remorse and the victim’s forgiveness, the sentence was reduced to four years for that count. The second count adds three additional years to the total sentence.
Ultimately, Toliseli will serve five years in prison. Upon release, he faces strict conditions including probation, mandatory participation in drug and alcohol awareness programs, and restrictions on his residence. Failure to adhere to these terms could lead to the activation of the suspended portion of his sentence.