The Bulatoko
community in northwest Sydney is still in shock following a stabbing
incident that occurred at a home on Illabo Street, claiming the lives
of two people on Sunday morning.
Speaking on behalf of the
Bulatoko community,
Bex
Peterson, the Director of Lewa Strong, a movement for Pasifika
Violence Prevention, says one of the things they want to be clear
about is that this incident was not a love triangle.
She
says this was a case of domestic violence and stalking behaviour by
the accused.
Peterson says the man who also died was
not Anaseini Waqavuki’s partner, as previously reported, but an
acquaintance of Waqavuki.
She highlighted that Waqavuki’s
relationship with the accused ended two months ago, as she was
experiencing different forms of violence during their dating
period.
Peterson says Waqavuki was a lively person who could
light up a room when she entered, and they miss her so much.
Insert: Peterson on domestic violence, 30th Dec 25. NN
Meanwhile,
47-year-old Anare Vunitabua has been charged with murder in connection with the pair’s deaths.
Vunitabua allegedly killed his former
partner, Anaseini Waqavuki, and her associate on Sunday morning.
The
30-year-old associate was found on the footpath outside her Illabo
Street home in Quakers Hill with stab wounds to his stomach and
hands.
He was rushed to hospital but died a few hours
later.
Waqavuki was found dead in her kitchen, having
suffered multiple stab wounds.
Vunitabua requested to
appear before the Bail Division Court yesterday morning, however the
magistrate declined to bring him in, as it was not
necessary.
Vunitabua did not apply for bail and will
remain in custody ahead of his next hearing in February 2026 at the
Downing Centre Local Court.
NSW Police Superintendent
Jason Joyce on Sunday indicated the alleged stabbings were domestic
violence-related.
Superintendent Joyce described the scene
as “traumatic” and “confronting” for emergency services and
neighbours.
A knife has also been recovered from a service
station on Richmond Road in Woodcroft.