BY ELTON LONARATHA JNR

THE Ngossi Ward Independence Sports Day concluded successfully this week with a prize presentation at White River School. The event, which began over the weekend, saw teams from the surrounding Ngossi Ward community competing in 3×3 Basketball and seven-a-side soccer.

This initiative, spearheaded by Ward Councilor and Chairman of the HCC Works Division, Honorable Rex Konofilia, aims to unite West Honiara communities and uncover local sporting talent.

The seven-a-side soccer tournament commenced on Saturday and culminated in Thursday’s prize presentation. The 3×3 Basketball competition was a one-day event held on Sunday, with its presentation taking place the same day.

Honorable Rex Konofilia, during the prize presentation for the seven-a-side soccer winners, celebrated the success of the six-day Ngossi Ward Independence tournament.

“This event is not about its prizes but about unifying our people, the people of Ngossi Ward. We must develop in our youths a sense of belonging, responsibility, and ownership of our beloved Ngossi Ward. Through unity, we can confront and overcome the pressing issues and challenges we face in our daily lives within our communities, and that is what should be captured through our participation in this tournament,” Konofilia stated.

Konofilia also expressed gratitude to Bulk Shop for supporting the event with trophies, emphasizing the community’s appreciation and hopes for ongoing support.

“Thank you to all participating teams and the community of White River for being the host. Special appreciation goes to the supporters for your tireless efforts in supporting our teams and making this tournament a success. God bless our beloved Ngossi Ward. Our games, our ward, one people,” he concluded.

The Ngossi Ward Independence Sports Day not only highlighted local sporting talents but also fostered a sense of unity and community spirit among the participants and residents.

Meanwhile, the order of presentation for the two sports delivered at the event is as follows:

(Seven-aside Soccer)

1^st Valbros Heights

2^nd Ngossi

3^rd Central White river

4^th 7-Up

(3X3 Basketball)

1^st Ngossi Knightz DP

2^nd RRR Snakes

3^rd Whiteriver Rukiez

4^th Ngossi Nightz

BY ROMINAH FAKA

The case against a 51-year-old man who allegedly raped a five-year-old girl will come back to court on July 25 for plea and possible committal hearing.

Prosecution on Thursday this week, made an application in court under section 201 of the Criminal Procedural Code (CPC) to substitute the initial charge of sexual intercourse to rape charge against the accused.

The presiding Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea granted the substituted charge.

Defence sought 14 days adjournment to look through the substituted charge and obtain instructions from the accused for plea.

The accused who name cannot be named to protect the allege victim’s identity is charged with one count of rape on a child under age of 15.

The victim in this case is a five-year-old girl.

The allegation said on May 17, 2024 around 4.30pm the victim was playing outside their house at Burn Creek, east Honiara.

While she was playing the suspect called her to go to him in his house.

The suspect was their close neighbour and while calling the victim he also told her that he would give her a packet of twisties.

The victim then went to the suspect and he took her into his house.

It was further alleged the suspect removed his clothes and the victim’s clothes and did sexual actions on the child.

It was alleged that during the course of sexual activity, the victim’s mother who was in their house realised that her daughter was missing so she went out looking for her.

She called the victim but she did not answered. She then came to the place where the victim was playing but she was not there so she walked towards the suspect’s house which was beside the place her daughter was playing.

As she was approached the house of the suspect, she heard a noise inside the house so she peeped through a window and saw the suspect half naked and her daughter standing naked in front of him.

The mother was angry and shouted saying “[Suspect] what have you done to my daughter, my husband and I we always help you and your family, why did you do such thing to my daughter”.

The victim’s mother walked into the house and took the victim outside and walked away.

Later the mother took the victim to one of their relatives and asked her daughter what the suspect did to her and the victim told her mother.

On May 20 the victim was assisted by her mother to Sexual Assault Squad and reported the matter to the police.

The suspect escaped to an unknown location, but was later located by police on June 4 at White River and was formally arrested.

Herrick Lautola appears for crown and Delilah Kukura appears for suspect.

BY ROMINAH FAKA

The case against the woman accused of inciting her husband to return and kill the deceased will return to court on July 25 for a plea.

The prosecutor updated the court on Friday July 11, stating that the disclosures had been served to the defense counsel last week.

The defense counsel requested a 14-day adjournment to review the evidence and obtain instructions for the plea.

The court granted the adjournment and extended the remand for the accused.

The incident allegedly occurred in the early hours of December 17, 2023, between 1 am and 2 am. Nelson Magi (the first accused), his wife Zilma Ben (the second accused), and another female were on their way back to Jackson Ridge after attending a party at Lau Valley.

They stopped on the main road next to Lau Valley SDA church, appearing drunk, loud, and arguing.

Opposite the church, a group of people was sitting under a tent. Magi turned to them and asked, “Who of you is strong?” When one person responded, Magi approached, grabbed a chair, and threw it at the person.

The deceased’s niece ran back to her house and woke up the deceased, who then went to the scene to separate Magi and the other person. As the deceased led Magi away, Magi assaulted him, causing him to fall backward. Magi then walked away towards his wife, Zilma Ben.

Ben shouted aggressively at her husband, saying, “Go back and kill the deceased,” while also throwing stones at the deceased’s house. Magi turned back and attacked the deceased in the rib/chest area with a piece of timber, causing the deceased to lose balance and fall unconscious.

The deceased was rushed to the National Referral Hospital (NRH) but was pronounced dead. Steward Tonowane acts for the crown, and Lazuaus Waroka represents Zilma Ben.