The funeral services of a slain daughter and her husband, who police believed he killed her before attempting to take his own life and later died in hospital had been described as wonderful.
Mother of four Toakase Finau, 29, and father of her children Viliami Latu, 31, were buried together in the same plot at the Manukau Memorial Garden, Papatoetoe this morning.
Videographer Rev Vosailangi Sikalu who filmed the burial services said it was “hugely pitiful”.
Finau’s mother ‘Alilia Teu Kata acknowledged the inspiring way the two families have grieved together asking her own family and kāinga to leave everything behind.
“To my kāinga (relatives) if you are sympathising (with Toakase) leave Viliami alone as Toakase’s paternal side were not happy with me on that. The funeral services were wonderful,” Kata posted on Facebook this afternoon.
She said she was not a person who interfered with other people’s affairs.
The pair’s tragedy haunted the Tongan community since their tragic deaths were revealed in the news last week.
Some of Finau’s kāinga and friends couldn’t bear to see how her life ended in such a dreadful way and attempts by both families to handle it with respect and dignity didn’t deter them from venting their frustrations on Facebook.
After Kaniva posted the news with double headshot photos of the pair and shared them to Facebook some supporters of Toakase didn’t accept it.
“Can you please delete Viliami’s photo,” a commenter said.
“I wouldn’t want to be buried together with my killer if I was the victim,” another wrote.
As we reported earlier this week, tributes had been also shared online for Lātū.
A commenter said she was surprised at “how he chose that pathway for him and his wife to go through”.
Last night Kata spoke during the pair’s wake. She described Finau as unique and loving among all her five children. She said Finau was her second daughter and the third was ‘Ana who died in April last year.
Finau’s family believed Latu contacted Finau last week asking to see their children at his court-appointed bail address in Pukekohe.
Finau’s family also believed the deceased pair met after Finau arrived and discussed their relationship during which Finau appears to have declined a suggestion by Latu for them to reunite.
They are survived by their four children.
