One of the men jailed for the murder of South Auckland grandmother Meliame Fisi’ihoi successfully appeals his sentence

Meliame Fisi’ihoi
Photo: Delivered / Police

One of three men jailed for the murder of a South Auckland grandmother earlier this year has successfully appealed his sentence.

Meliame Fisi’ihoi, 57, was shot dead at point-blank range at her home on Calthorp Close in Mangere four years ago when she responded to a knock on her window.

The three men jailed for her death targeted her son, Stephen Fisi’ihoi, who was not home at the time.

Brothers Viliami and Falala Iongi were convicted of murder in the Auckland High Court and sentenced earlier this year, along with their cousin Manu Iongi, who was found guilty of manslaughter.

The trio were members of a subgroup of the Crips gang, with Falala and Stephen Fisi’ihoi once being friends.

In 2019, the relationship broke down due to a dispute between the men over the exchange of methamphetamine for a shotgun.

By December that year the dispute had escalated and one evening at around 9.30pm Falala and Viliami arrived at Mangere’s address armed with guns.

Shots were fired at Stephen Fisi’ihoi and the associates he was with at the time, striking one of them.

A month later, Falala and Viliami, along with Manu Iongi, returned to the Calthorp Close address and shot Meliame Fisi’ihoi in the head from a distance of less than two meters.

Neighbors said they heard a car driving slowly down the street shortly after 2:30 a.m. and driving away at a high rate of speed after the shooting.

Viliami Iongi was given a life sentence with a non-parole period of 15 years, while Falala received the same, with a non-parole period of seven years.

Manu Iongi was also originally charged with murder, but was sentenced to eight years and six months for manslaughter.

Manu Iongi appealed both his conviction and sentence, while Falala Iongi appealed only his sentence.

Both men argued that their sentences were manifestly excessive.

Viliami Iongi did not appeal.

Manu Iongi appealed his conviction on the grounds that the jury’s verdict was unreasonable, and that the presiding judge failed to adequately summarize his case when summarizing.

He also argued before the Supreme Court and erred in considering evidence from another cousin as admissible.

The courts rejected Manu Iongi’s appeal but upheld Falala’s, reducing his minimum prison sentence from 17 to 15 years.