BY ROMINAH FAKA
A man accused of murdering a woman in Guadalcanal Plains in May, 2025 has finally been allocated legal representation.
Richard Sonia, 25, is charged with one count of murder contrary to section 200 of Penal Code, and one count of rape contrary to section 136 F (1) (a) and (b) of the Penal Code, as amended by the Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016.
Both charges carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Prosecution did not appear in court due to their attendance of the funeral of their late colleague.
A defence counsel from PSO, (Public Solicitor’s Office) who appeared on behalf of the defendant, informed the court that the matter has been allocated to a lawyer from their office, Donation Houa.
The defence however, did not have instructions as to whether Houa received disclosures from the prosecution or not.
The matter has been adjourned to Wednesday, July 23, 2025 for a possible plea.
Court also directed that prosecution serve disclosures to the defence, if it hasn’t been done during the course of adjournment.
The deceased was a 29-year-old woman.
The incident occurred on May 21, 2025 in the cocoa area near GPPOL II, North Guadalcanal.
Sonia was allegedly intoxicated when he encountered the deceased while she was washing clothes at a well.
It is further alleged that the defendant attempted to grab the deceased but when she resisted, he used a stone to hit her on the forehead and then raped her.
The deceased later died as a result from the attack by the defendant.
Office of Director of Public Prosecution is prosecuting and Donation Houa acts for the defendant.
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