Canberra Man Found Guilty of Holding Woman Captive and Assaulting Her for Four Days
By Chloe · Published 26 Oct 2026 · Updated 26 Oct 2026
Canberra, ACT · ACT News
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Canberra Man Found Guilty of Holding Woman Captive and Assaulting Her for Four Days - Canberra, ACT
Smart summary
A victim has described the lasting psychological trauma of a four-day ordeal after a Canberra man was found guilty of rape, assault and forcibly confining her.
A woman who endured four days of violence and captivity in Canberra has delivered an emotional victim impact statement in court, describing the lasting effects of the abuse and the loss of her sense of safety.
The statement was presented on 26 October 2026 during sentencing proceedings involving Sisituutuumata Fulivai, 47, who was found guilty by an Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court jury of 20 offences, including forcible confinement, rape and assault.
The offending occurred at a home in Lyneham in June 2024. The victim was 24 at the time. According to evidence presented during the proceedings, she eventually escaped from the property and ran naked onto the street, screaming for help. Police found her after she fled.
In her statement, the woman described the four days as a period of extreme physical and sexual violence that had fundamentally changed her life. She told the court that the experience had affected her emotional wellbeing, relationships and ability to feel safe around other people.
The victim also described experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks and recurring nightmares. Her statement conveyed the continuing impact of the incident more than two years after it occurred.
The victim’s mother also addressed the court, describing the effect the offending had on the family. She said her daughter had changed significantly since the incident and urged the judge to impose a severe sentence.
During the trial, the court heard that the victim and Fulivai had previously had consensual sexual relations. Prosecutors said the violence occurred after Fulivai accused her of wanting to have sex with one of his friends.
The prosecution described the offending as being driven by power, control and sexual jealousy. Prosecutors told the court that the victim had been stripped, repeatedly beaten with household objects and choked. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that she sustained more than 50 separate injuries.
The court also heard that the victim was assaulted while unconscious and unable to defend herself. Prosecutors argued that the severity and duration of the violence made the offending particularly serious.
Fulivai attempted to interrupt the victim’s mother while she was delivering her statement, but Supreme Court Justice Belinda Baker stopped the interruption and allowed the proceedings to continue.
Defence barrister Christina Muthurajah told the court that Fulivai had no criminal history before his circumstances deteriorated in 2023. The defence referred to difficulties involving his employment, business and housing.
The sentencing hearing is intended to help the court understand the harm suffered by the victim and consider the circumstances relevant to an appropriate penalty. Fulivai has already been found guilty of the offences, and sentencing will determine the punishment imposed.
The case highlights the potentially long-lasting consequences of sexual violence and coercive behaviour. The victim’s statement placed the focus on the impact beyond the physical injuries, including trauma, fear and the disruption of everyday life.
The court is expected to sentence Fulivai at a later date. Until the sentence is formally delivered, the proceedings remain ongoing.
CourtVictimFulivaiStatementViolence
A woman who endured four days of violence and captivity in Canberra has delivered an emotional victim impact statement in court, describing the lasting effects of the abuse and the loss of her sense of safety.
The statement was presented on 26 October 2026 during sentencing proceedings involving Sisituutuumata Fulivai, 47, who was found guilty by an Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court jury of 20 offences, including forcible confinement, rape and assault.
The offending occurred at a home in Lyneham in June 2024. The victim was 24 at the time. According to evidence presented during the proceedings, she eventually escaped from the property and ran naked onto the street, screaming for help. Police found her after she fled.
In her statement, the woman described the four days as a period of extreme physical and sexual violence that had fundamentally changed her life. She told the court that the experience had affected her emotional wellbeing, relationships and ability to feel safe around other people.
The victim also described experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks and recurring nightmares. Her statement conveyed the continuing impact of the incident more than two years after it occurred.
The victim’s mother also addressed the court, describing the effect the offending had on the family. She said her daughter had changed significantly since the incident and urged the judge to impose a severe sentence.
During the trial, the court heard that the victim and Fulivai had previously had consensual sexual relations. Prosecutors said the violence occurred after Fulivai accused her of wanting to have sex with one of his friends.
The prosecution described the offending as being driven by power, control and sexual jealousy. Prosecutors told the court that the victim had been stripped, repeatedly beaten with household objects and choked. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that she sustained more than 50 separate injuries.
The court also heard that the victim was assaulted while unconscious and unable to defend herself. Prosecutors argued that the severity and duration of the violence made the offending particularly serious.
Fulivai attempted to interrupt the victim’s mother while she was delivering her statement, but Supreme Court Justice Belinda Baker stopped the interruption and allowed the proceedings to continue.
Defence barrister Christina Muthurajah told the court that Fulivai had no criminal history before his circumstances deteriorated in 2023. The defence referred to difficulties involving his employment, business and housing.
The sentencing hearing is intended to help the court understand the harm suffered by the victim and consider the circumstances relevant to an appropriate penalty. Fulivai has already been found guilty of the offences, and sentencing will determine the punishment imposed.
The case highlights the potentially long-lasting consequences of sexual violence and coercive behaviour. The victim’s statement placed the focus on the impact beyond the physical injuries, including trauma, fear and the disruption of everyday life.
The court is expected to sentence Fulivai at a later date. Until the sentence is formally delivered, the proceedings remain ongoing.
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