PROSECUTION has been ordered to disclose brief of the case of the four people charged in relation to the Mbike Island shooting before December 7.
The matter came before Principal Magistrate Jim Seuika yesterday and was further adjourned.
There has been a change of prosecutor after Nelson Dhita, who used to take carriage of this matter, left the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Public Prosecutor Florence Joel appeared instead yesterday.
On the last occasion, Mr Dhita has served part disclosures to the lawyer representing the four accused, Aikan Maelausia, Julyn Mika, Harrison Niumalefo and Billy Kanakana Ringasui
Mr Seuika ordered prosecution to disclosure the brief by 1 December.
The matter will then return on the next appearance where the court will see the progress of the disclosures as to whether or not full disclosures were served by then.
The first accused, alleged to be the boat skipper, Jim Aita, was already committed to the High Court for trial.
All accused are facing charges of attempted murder, wilful and unlawful damage of property, attempt to destroy property by explosives, possession of firearm without firearm licence, possession of ammunition without firearm licence, discharging firearm in public, and one count of arson except for Mika who faces a count of aiding and abetting.
Prosecution alleged Mika supplied fuel to the group of men, including the three accused, who carried out the shooting at Mbike Island last December.
Police alleged Mika looked after the Bare Foot fuel depot, which was on an island located in the Gela Group.
The fuel depot is owned by the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Malaita Jimmy Lusibaea.
It was alleged that between 2am and 3am of 9 December, a group of armed men arrived at the resort in a fibreglass boat with firearms and discriminately fired at Sun Express boat and towards the resort.
On the afternoon of 8 December, the Sun Express, a boat operating under the Breakwater Cafe in Honiara, transported the 17 MPs to Mbike Island.
The MPs were out on a retreat ahead of the Prime Minister’s election the next day.
It was alleged that soon after the gun firing, the armed men, including Aita, poured petrol at the back of Sun Express before setting it alight.
But the fire flame returned to their boat from the poured fuel.
Out of fear and danger, the men allegedly threw out two filled containers of fuel that bears the name Bare Foot on them into the sea and quickly fled the scene.
It was alleged that crew members of Sun Express boat swiftly attended to their boat and put off the fire just in time.
They inspected the fast craft and after realising it was still safe for travel, the MPs and others at the resort boarded it back to Honiara just in time to take part in the election.
Police also alleged Aita and his group fled Mbike Island back to Bare Foot fuel depot.
There, police alleged the group burned the outboard motor canoe they used in this mission for the purpose of concealing the identity of the boat, and its owner.
It was further alleged that on about 10am of December 9, Aita and other suspects were transported to Honiara on a private boat.
Maelyn Bird of Emerald Lawyers is representing all accused.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
