BY ROMINAH FAKA
On Wednesday, the court found Harrison Forau guilty of one count of domestic violence and one count of cruelty to a child.
The court extended Forau’s remand warrant until July 17 for sentencing submissions from the crown and defense counsels.
Forau, currently serving a two-year and six-month prison sentence for raping a minor, faced these new charges and pleaded not guilty. The trial was conducted before Principal Magistrate Elma Veenah Rizzu Hilly.
The court heard that Forau, from NFD Area of Tulagi Township, Central Islands Province, psychologically abused his de facto wife by swinging a bush knife at her, causing her to be very frightened. On the same date, while heavily intoxicated, Forau took an infant child from the safe custody of his de facto wife and put human feces into the child’s mouth and over the child’s body.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to Forau’s arrest. The Police Prosecution Department appeared for the Crown, while the Public Solicitor’s Office represented Harrison Forau.
