Psychiatrist details suspect's schizophrenia history in Fiji murder inquiry

A senior psychiatrist has detailed the extensive mental health history of a man accused of murdering a 16-year-old girl, telling the Suva High Court that the suspect has suffered from schizophrenia and had been admitted to St Giles Hospital 23 times before the alleged offense.

Senior Medical Officer Dr. Faurina Panapasa provided evidence during a mental inquiry to determine if 43-year-old Samuela Dasalusalu is fit to stand trial for the murder of Salote Sikiti. Dasalusalu is accused of repeatedly attacking the teenager with a cane knife outside a home in Naqali Village, Naitasiri, on December 10, 2025. She later died from her injuries.

Dr. Panapasa assessed Dasalusalu after his admission to St Giles Hospital from December 22 to December 26 last year. She stated that three psychiatric reports were compiled following multiple assessments. The psychiatrist informed the court that Dasalusalu's relapses into schizophrenia were often linked to discontinuing his medication and substance use, which had previously led to threatening behavior and police involvement.

Explaining schizophrenia as a chronic psychotic illness, Dr. Panapasa noted that individuals may experience hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, impacting their grasp on reality. During her mental status examinations, Dasalusalu appeared calm and cooperative but exhibited impaired judgment, reported auditory hallucinations, and expressed paranoid beliefs. He acknowledged having schizophrenia but attributed it to witchcraft rather than a medical condition, indicating a Level Three insight into his illness, accepting he had a mental illness but not recognizing it as a medical condition.