BY ROMINAH FAKA
On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, High Court heard defence’s no case to answer submission in the Dragon Pub murder case and has adjourned the matter for Friday, July 18.
Two men, Paul Daoburi, 35 and James Solomon Kai, 21, are accused of murdering an off-duty police officer at the Pub in May last year.
Defence argued that there was insufficient evidence and that the defendants should therefore be acquitted.
Daoburi and Solomon Kai are jointly charged with one count of murder contrary to section 200 of the Penal Code.
Both men had pleaded not guilty to the charge and a trial was conducted before Judge John Keniapisia.
After prosecution completed its case, defence opted for a no case to answer application.
Court adjourned for Friday next week, July 18, for ruling on the no case to answer application.
Allegations said the deceased and his colleague, along with the colleague’s wife, went to the Dragon Pub on the night of May 16, 2024 for drinks.
Sometime between 12am and 1am, an argument broke out between the deceased and a group of men following an assault on his colleague’s wife in which a bottle was allegedly smashed against her head causing her to fall to the ground unconscious.
It was alleged that during the course of argument the deceased took out and applied pepper spray on the group of men he was arguing with.
The deceased was later dragged out of the pub by an off-duty security, defendant Daoburi.
Prosecution alleged that at the time of incident, Daoburi was in possession of a snooker stick, which he used to strike the deceased on the head with.
Kai was also at the Dragons Pub area. He was in possession of a bottle which he used to hit the head of the deceased with.
Following the assaults, the deceased was rushed to the National Referral Hospital (NRH) but upon arrival, was pronounced dead.
The prosecution case aims to prove that the actions of the defendants directly led to the death of the deceased.
Patricia Tabepuda Waisanau together with Martha Mutukera are prosecuting and Hubert Fugui of HOF Law Chambers act for Kai and Oxley Limeniala act for Daoburi.
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