‘I will kill you’: Chilling words before murder

Nunia Kurualeba (right) was murdered by her partner Jeremaia Tuwai.

WARNING: Distressing content

“One day, I will kill you.”

The six words were uttered to Nunia Kurualeba, 21, by her partner Jeremaia Tuwai in the weeks before he dragged her by her shirt into her bedroom and killed her with a knife he had hidden under her pillow.

Tuwai, then 22, had told her to “start saying goodbye to your family” the day before he murdered her, also telling her cousin “tell that girl I will suicide her”.

Tuwai has admitted to murdering Ms Kurualeba on July 8, 2024, in Kingswood, in Sydney’s west, telling police that he was motivated by “anger and jealousy” and he “wanted to end her life”, a court has been told.

He will be sentenced later this month.

The pair’s relationship has been described by prosecutors as “one of volatility”, with horrific details of his abuse now revealed in court documents tendered to the court and seen by NewsWire.

Ms Kurualeba had gone to her sister’s home three times in her final week alive, saying that Tuwai had punched her and told her “one day, I will kill you”. Her sister told her to report this to the police.

Jeremaia Tuwai has admitted to murdering his partner, Nunia Kurualeba, in July 2024. Picture: Supplied

‘Start saying goodbye to your family’

Banging noises and fighting was heard coming from the couple’s bedroom in their unit on July 6, with one of their flatmates hearing Ms Kurualeba crying out for help.

Ms Kurualeba kicked Tuwai out about 3am the following day after he punched her in the head.

Tuwai texted her later that evening, telling her to “start saying goodbye to your family”.

“You are a lesbian, I don’t want you because you have gone with other boys before me … start saying goodbye to your family until we meet again rip,” he wrote.

Tuwai then told Ms Kurualeba’s cousin “tell that girl I will suicide her”.

Within 24 hours Ms Kurualeba was dead, murdered by Tuwai as she tried to flee their unit so she could go back to Fiji.

Ms Kurualeba believed Tuwai would be at work when she went to the unit with her cousins to grab her things, her younger sister telling her “OK but if something happens call the police”.

Ms Kurualeba was 21 years old. Picture: Supplied

Her family described her as having a ‘smile that could light up any room. Picture: Supplied.

One of her cousins told her to wait outside so she could check if it was safe to go in but quickly signalled that Tuwai was inside.

The three of them ran back out but Tuwai chased them and eventually caught up, grabbing hold of Ms Kurualeba’s shirt and dragging her back into the unit.

“Jeremaia don’t,” Ms Kurualeba said, her cousins pleading with him not to punch her and phoning a friend for help.

She said “help me” after Tuwai dragged her into her bedroom, with one of her cousins yelling for him to open the door.

Ms Kurualeba managed to get the door open before Tuwai punched her in the head five times.

Her cousin pushed Tuwai but he got up and grabbed the knife he had hidden under a pillow, pushing Ms Kurualeba’s cousin away before stabbing Ms Kurualeba twice.

Tuwai raised the knife over his head again but the cousin struggled over the weapon with him, with one of Ms Kurualeba’s flatmates grabbing it and throwing it into another room before Tuwai fled.

Ms Kurualeba was unable to be saved, with her mother and sister last week telling a sentence hearing of their grief and anguish.

Tuwai and Ms Kurualeba’s relationship was described as ‘one of volatility’ by the Crown prosecutor. Picture: Supplied.

They said knowing Ms Kurualeba’s life ended with violence “haunts” her family, whose nights were now “sleepless” and “filled with tears and nightmares”.

Killer motivated by ‘anger and jealousy’

Tuwai was arrested later that day at another Kingswood address. He told police that he and Ms Kurualeba had fought, and he stabbed her because he was “so angry”.

He claimed that he had seen her talking to other men on Facebook, and he was motivated by “anger and jealousy”.

“I want to end her life there,” Tuwai said when asked why he grabbed the knife.

Crown prosecutor Nicholas Marney described their relationship as “one of volatility” marked by a pattern of violence, threats and control perpetrated by Tuwai.

“(Ms Kurualeba’s murder) was motivated by an offender who was angry, who was jealous and who was unwilling to accept the deceased’s right to decide her own future. And that included, of course, a future without him,” Mr Marney told last week’s sentence hearing.

Tuwai’s lawyer Antony Evers told the court that his client had a difficult and violent upbringing, which Mr Marney said “may give some explanation” but did not provide any mitigation for the murder.

Tuwai will be sentenced on March 20.

If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual abuse or family violence contact:

National Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence Counselling Service 24-hour helpline 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732

24-hour Emergency Accommodation helpline on 1800 800 588

Safe At Home helpline on 1800 633 937

National Violence and Abuse Trauma Counselling and Recovery Service on 1800 FULLSTOP (1800 385 578). They also have a specific line for the LGBTIQA+ community called the Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline on 1800 497 212

SHE (free and confidential counselling and support) on 6278 9090

Sexual Assault Support Services on 6231 1811, or after hours 6231 1817

Family Violence Crisis and Support Service on 1800 608 122

Bravehearts – Sexual Assault Support for Children on 1800 BRAVE 1

Kids Helpline is for young people aged 5 to 25 on 1800 551 800

Don’t go it alone. Please reach out for help by contacting Lifeline on 13 11 14

Men who have anger, relationship or parenting issues, should contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or the Don’t Become That Man helpline on 1300 243 413a