BY ROMINAH FAKA
Trial into the case of Stanley Gegesi, charged with one count of murder and one count of grievous harm has completed at the magistrate court.
Yesterday the accused opted to remain silent to the charge of murder, and to the charge of grievous harm Mr Gegesi pleaded guilty.
Court adjourned the matter for tomorrow July 12 for defence to submit the closing sentencing submissions.
Court heard the incident occurred on the night of August 11, 2023 at Tausoro, Turarana area, Guadalcanal province.
Prosecution alleged that on the night of the incident between 10pm and 12 midnight, Gegesi entered the elderly couple’s house.
The couple were lying in their bed when Gegesi went into their house and demanded the couple for a large sum of money.
The elderly woman got her purse and gave $100 to the accused but he insisted for $4,000.
Gegesi then grabbed a bush knife and cut the elderly man (first victim) with it.
He cut the elderly man’s left side head, backside and his right hand.
After the incident Gegesi escaped and went to the house of the second victim.
The second victim was sleeping when the accused cut him with the knife.
During that time, several men started throwing stones at the accused.
So, he escaped along the Turarana River down to Turarana village where he joined a dance that was going on in the village.
The villagers who chased the accused called that community by mobile phones to alert them about the said incident occurred that night.
The group of men of Purakachere Village then caught the accused and held him until police arrived at the village.
The first victim has died, allegedly due to the injuries sustained from Gegesi’s slaughter.
The second victim was taken to hospital and has been in a critical condition because of the cut the accused did to him.
Andrew Kelesi appears for the crown and Benham Ifuto’o appears for Gegesi.
