A 37-year-old man has been charged with the murder of mother-of-four Laisa Waka Tunidau and in custody.
A judge at Christchurch District Court on Monday ordered reports to determine the man’s mental health.
New Zealand Herald understands that he has received mental health care from the Canterbury District Health Council (CDHB).
But the CDHB has repeatedly refused to answer questions from the announce over the past three days.
Tunidau, a cleaner in her 50s, was taking the bus home from work and was meters from her home in Cheyenne St, in the suburb of Sockburn, when she was attacked around 4:20 p.m. Saturday.
Tunidau’s 11-year-old son was left “traumatized” after watching emergency services try to rescue a woman outside his family home without knowing it was his mother.
The small and close-knit community draws together around the father and son. They have not yet returned home, but have found a safe place to live.
A Givealittle page launched yesterday to support the family has already raised more than $ 30,000.
But frustrations are mounting over unanswered questions about how the shocking attack could have taken place.
“There is currently anger within the community over whether the old man had a mental illness, and questions as to why he was out in the first place and took the life of a mother and a wife,” said Malakai Waqasokolala, president of Canterbury Fijian community, said.
“We ask questions about why. The community and family definitely need an answer from those in charge of those things, to put them off in some way. There is anger hanging around in the community.”
Waqasokolala is not aware that anyone from the CDHB is talking to anyone in the community.
“We hope that in the next few days we can at least get something so that we can put together what happened and get closure because we lost Laisa,” he said.
Fijian community leader and congregation member Una Tikoi said earlier that the fatal stab wound had destroyed family and friends.
“The community is not happy … the community is angry with our beloved friend and mother whose life was recklessly taken away,” Tikoi said.
People ask why the man was allowed to be in the community when he was a “sick man”, Tikoi said.
Funeral plans are still being finalized, but it is likely that Tunidau will return to Fiji to say goodbye to loved ones.
She has four children, three of whom live in her homeland.
Waqasokolala, who knew the family well and often stayed at their Sockburn home, rushed to Cheyenne St on Saturday after the fatal assault.
He said the grieving man Nemani Tunidau was upset but tried to stay strong for his children.
“I lost a woman, his beloved,” Waqasokolala said.
“Only time will heal and that he will come through with God’s blessing and God’s consent. He is currently trying to be a very strong and supportive father figure for his son.”
Waqasokolala is grateful for the support of the wider Christchurch community, with stories of co-workers showing up with flowers and showing heartfelt condolences.
“It’s pretty cool, and that’s what Christchurch is known for,” he said.
Just before the accused appeared in court, Tunidau’s adult daughter in Fiji spoke of her grief over the loss of her beloved mother.
“I can not begin to express how much I am going to miss you. There is a big hole in my heart and I do not know how I am going to get it right. I will always think of you, mom.”
The man accused of stabbing Tunidau to death was granted interim name-calling during a brief appearance at the Christchurch District Court yesterday.
He will appear in the Christchurch High Court on July 15 – and a judge has asked for a report under section 38 of the Criminal Procedure (Mentally Handicapped Persons) Act 2003 to determine his suitability for trial.
Health Minister Andrew Little’s office declined to comment.
Christchurch residents’ hearts went out to the family and friends of Tunidau who were “killed in such a senseless, violent attack,” the city’s mayor, Lianne Dalziel, said.
“A crime of this nature will also have a devastating impact on the community, and they will also want answers on how and why it happened.”
Superintendent John Price, Canterbury District Commander, said the alleged murder was “a horrific, traumatic and haphazard attack on an innocent person who was simply on his way home from work”.
The traumatic, senseless act will have a huge impact on the community as a whole and right across New Zealand, he said.
“Nobody deserves it,” Price said.