BY MELVILLE TITIULU
The Magistrate Court yesterday issued a warrant of arrest for a man accused of instigating the 2021 Honiara riots.
The defendant, Knoxley Atu is facing multiple counts of charges relating to managing of an unlawful society (M4D), unlawful assembly and arson – linked to the Honiara November riots in 2021.
On Monday, March 30, the matter came for mention before Principal Magistrate, Felix Hollison at court room 3.
The defendant and his lawyer were not in attendance at the court yesterday.
The Principal Magistrate further noted that the defendant since last year rarely attended court dates. He subsequently, ordered a warrant of arrest for Mr Atu and police officers from the RSIPF were directed to execute the warrant of arrest for Atu.
Special Prosecuting Counsel, Ms. Mary -Ann Zurenuoc told the Principal Magistrate that the court had granted a case separation, allowing the trial for Mannie and Kwaita to proceed independently of Atu’s in November 2025, however, a criminal case number for Atu’s case has not been given to date.
She further informed the court that numerous emails were sent to court for the matter to be put back on the listing for the month of January and February of this year. However, nothing had transpired.
Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison told Ms. Zurenuoc that he was apologetic for that as it was an oversight on their part. He further reminded Prosecuting Counsel that the case of Noxley Atu is still pending and that was made clear in his sentence ruling for Mannie and Kwaita dated Wednesday, February 18.
In court yesterday, the Principal Magistrate asked the Prosecuting Counsel if she would be able to be able to gather prosecution witnesses prior to next court date if the matter was to be adjourned for Wednesday, April 8 to which she said “no” due to limited finances to arrange witnesses to come over.
John Kwaita and Simon Mannie have been acquitted of charges accusing them of instigating the 2021 riots. Within their ruling, the Principal Magistrate noted that the matter against these two defendants former co-accused, Mr Knoxley Atu is still pending the setting of the trial dates for later this year.
In Mannie and Kwaita’s case, the same principal magistrate proceeded to dismiss the matter after prosecution witnesses, mostly police officers failed to turn up in court.
In the 5th paragraph of the said ruling, the court noted that the unavailability of the witnesses means that there is insufficient evidence or no evidence at all and the charges cannot be sustained.
Thus, the charges laid against Mannie and Kwaita were withdrawn pursuant to section 190 (2) (b) (i) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
In the meantime, Noxley Atu’s case was adjourned to Wednesday, April 8th, 2026 for mention.
Special counsel, Ms Mary -Ann Zurenuoc is prosecuting the matter and she represented the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Defence Private lawyer, Lawrence Kwana from Honiara Attorney represented the defendant.
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