BY JENNIFER KUSAPA
The case of a police officer accused of crashing a police vehicle into the Holy Cross cathedral brick wall has been adjourned for today.
The incident occurred in 2019.
Police officer Markie Rokoto’s case was mentioned in court yesterday before Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea.
The trial date had been set for May 31, and yesterday’s session was an interim mention.
Iomea however announced that he would be hearing another trial on that week, and suggested that this case be re-allocated to another magistrate or the trial date be changed.
Public Prosecutor Helen Naqu said her office has already made arrangements for their two witnesses to be transported over to Honiara on the trial date. However, given Magistrate Iomea’s situation, public prosecution would have to re-book the witnesses.
Iomea then adjourned the case for today to re-confirm the trial date.
Rokoto is facing charges in relation to an allegation between 10.30pm and 11pm on February 19, 2019 at the Holy Cross Cathedral along the Mbokonavera road.
The allegation said that Rokoto drove at a high speed along the Mbokonavera road while under the influence of liquor and was heading south when he ran the vehicle into the Holy Cross Cathedral brick wall near the road and overturned.
It was also alleged that there were two other police officers in the vehicle with Rokoto during the accident.
