“I Heard Her Scream…” — A Shocked Neighbor Recounts the Chilling Details at 4:30 AM in the “Love Triangle” Case That Rocked Suburban Sydney
In the quiet, family-friendly streets of Quakers Hill, a north-western suburb of Sydney, the early hours of December 28, 2025, shattered the peace forever. What began as a suspected domestic dispute escalated into a horrific double stabbing that claimed the lives of Anaseini Waqavuki, 38, and Epi Naitini, 30—both members of Sydney’s tight-knit Fijian community. A shocked neighbor, woken by the terror unfolding outside, later described hearing a woman’s piercing scream around 4:30 AM, followed by commotion and then an eerie “pure silence.”
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Emergency services rushed to Illabo Street just before 5 AM after reports of a disturbance. They found Naitini on the footpath, critically injured with multiple stab wounds to his stomach and hands. Inside the home, Waqavuki lay dead in the kitchen, also from apparent stab wounds. Despite desperate efforts, Naitini succumbed to his injuries shortly after. The scene was one of unimaginable violence in an otherwise unassuming residential area, leaving the community reeling.
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Within hours, a 47-year-old man, Anare Vunitabua—Waqavuki’s former partner—walked into Blacktown Police Station around 5:30 AM and surrendered. He was charged with two counts of murder and remains in custody. Police Superintendent Paul Joyce confirmed investigators are probing whether the incident stemmed from a “love triangle gone wrong,” given Vunitabua’s prior relationship with Waqavuki.
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The victims were remembered fondly by neighbors and friends. Waqavuki, a devoted mother, was described as always laughing and part of a “normal, happy family.” One neighbor, Wayne Spalding, told reporters, “They seemed to be happy… she was always laughing.” Naitini, visiting from Fiji where he had a wife and family, was a close friend helping Waqavuki around the house. However, a devastating twist emerged days later: friends and family clarified that Naitini was not romantically involved with Waqavuki. He was a happily married platonic friend, staying with her temporarily. The “love triangle” narrative, initially fueled by police, was reframed by loved ones as a tragic case of domestic violence involving Waqavuki’s ex-partner.
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Neighbors recounted the chilling sequence of events. One, speaking anonymously, described being jolted awake by a commotion outside around 4:30 AM. “I heard her scream,” the witness revealed, capturing the raw terror that pierced the night. This was followed by shouts, then abrupt silence until sirens wailed. Another resident said the screams were “wordless… of fear,” underscoring the helplessness felt by those nearby who could only listen in horror.
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The Fijian community in Sydney and back home has been devastated. Tributes poured in on social media, with family members remembering Waqavuki and Naitini as “caring and loving.” Waqavuki had shared joyful photos of Naitini’s visits, including farewells at the airport, highlighting their genuine friendship. The clarification from loved ones shifted focus to the broader issue of domestic violence, with calls for greater awareness and support in migrant communities.
Police have appealed for witnesses or footage from between 4:30 AM and 5:30 AM on Illabo Street. The case has spotlighted the dangers of possessive jealousy and unresolved breakups, even in seemingly peaceful suburbs. As investigations continue, the screams heard that morning linger as a haunting reminder of lives cut short.
This tragedy, unfolding just days before New Year’s Eve, has left Quakers Hill in mourning. Flowers and messages now adorn the site, a somber tribute to two lives lost in senseless violence. For the families left behind, the path to healing will be long, but their insistence on the truth—that this was not a romantic betrayal but an act of control—honors the victims’ real stories.
As Sydney reflects on yet another domestic violence incident turned deadly, the neighbor’s words echo: “I heard her scream…” A cry that no one should ever have to hear.
