BY ROMINAH FAKA
The three people accused and charged jointly with one count of murder and one count of grievous harm in relation to the incident that took place in May this year at Koivo village, Central Guadalcanal pleaded not guilty to the two counts at the Magistrate court before Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea.
The defence counsel Emy Rusi elected a short form Preliminary Inquiry for committal hearing.
Crown tender to court their committal deposition and court suspends to July 29 for ruling on the committal hearing short form.
Prosecution alleged on the evening of May 6, 2024 between 7pm and 8pm, the two victims were reportedly having a few beers following a celebration of a local church saint’s day at Koivo village.
The victims involved were uncle and nephew.
It was further alleged that the first victim (the nephew), who was having drinks with loud music, noticed a torchlight coming towards him from behind.
When the first victim got up to see who is holding the torchlight coming towards him from behind, one the accused allegedly struck his left leg with a bush knife.
After the first victim fell to the ground and lay helplessly, he allegedly saw accused Stanley Norman and Steward Philip Tiva holding bush knives in their right hands beside him.
The allegation stated that Steward Philip Tiva lifted his right hand with a bush knife and struck the victim’s backside with it. Tiva allegedly continued by stabbing the victim’s backside and also cutting the victim’s right arm with the same bush knife.
The second victim(uncle) who was also having beers, intervened to stop Stanley Norman from cutting the first victim with a bush knife. However, Timothy Sagia allegedly struck the second victim twice with a bush knife on his backside during the intervention.
The second victim escape the crime scene for safety.
The nearby villagers see and notice that first victim was seriously injured so they assist both victims to the Good Samaritan Hospital and then transferring them down to the National Referral Hospital.
Late during their admittance in the NRH for seven days from 6 to 13 May 2024, the first victim which is the nephew passed away from the serious injuries sustained from the knife cuts.
John Wesley Zoze appears for the crown and Emy Rusi act for Norman, Benham Ifuto’o act for Sagai and Rochella Palmer act for Tiva.
