Defence lawyer’s absence delays bail application

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

BAIL application against Rachel Roko has been adjourned for October 4 to allow the defence lawyer to appear in court.

Principal Magistrate Fatimah Taeburi said that a document for the bail application is already in the court’s file and questions the lawyer’s absence.

She comments that it is strange how some lawyers operate.

Ms Taeburi said the matter was listed yesterday for bail application as requested by the defence lawyer, Jenny Namo, but then she did not turn up.

Ms Taeburi questions Namo’s absence because she had earlier attended court for other matters.

Meanwhile, the accused, Ms Roko was initially charged with two other co-accused on another matter, but whilst on bail Ms Roko re-offended and was charged with an additional charge of assault causing actual bodily harm.

She was then remanded in custody for that matter.

She is also alleged in another matter which occurred in May last, which prosecutor Lyndon Adifaka says is a part-heard case yet to be completed.

This is in relation to the case of Lionel Aenasi, Rachel Roko and another accused who is under warrant of arrest since he was released on bail last year.

The three accused were charged in relation to an incident on May 26 in which Ms Roko’s siblings attacked and injured the victim, who was her partner at the time.

It is alleged she was angry at him for not returning home after work, but rather went out drinking with friends.

She eventually brought five relatives who carried out the attack.

Roko and Aenasi pleaded not guilty to the charge against them and a trial date was set.

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