THE defence will open its case next month in the High Court in relation to the Lungga river murder case in 2010.
This was after Justice Francis Mwanesalua found the accused, Aaron Konle, have a case to answer to the murder charge.
Hubert Fugui of Public Solicitor’s Office had filed a no case to answer submission at the end of the prosecution case, to which the court rejected yesterday.
The accused was charge with one count of murder following the allegation between 12 midnight and 1.30am of May 23, 2010 at Tamone Settlement, Lungga area, east Honiara.
Prosecution alleged Aaron hit the deceased’s head using an object that caused him to lose consciousness, and then allegedly carried him to the Lungga River bank and threw him into the water.
The deceased’s body was found floating in the river near where the body had been dumped earlier, by one of the villagers between 6am and 8am that same day.
Earlier on in the evening of May 22, it was alleged that a religious program was held at Tamone and the deceased and his three brothers and their father were drinking at their family home close to where the program was held.
Prosecution alleged that an argument then broke out between them relating to their brother in-law and some villagers intervened to stop them since it was disturbing the fundraising program.
Police were called and after arriving at the scene arrested two of the deceased’s brothers for disturbing the program.
The deceased however was alleged to have escaped police arrest and was running away when the accused allegedly attacked him.
Augustine Aulanga of the Director of Prosecution’s Office is prosecuting the case.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
