Pro to confirm if Motel’s armed robbery case will proceed or not
MORE time has been given to the prosecution to consider if they will proceed further or not with the matter of three men accused of robbing $100,000 at the Holiday Resort Motel at Henderson, Guadalcanal early this year.
Sio Wale, 22, Dickson Fito’o, 21 and Hudson Susumae, 23, are each facing the charge of armed robbery.
Public Prosecutor Nickson Tonowane yesterday sought more time to forward a memorandum to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to consider whether they will proceed further or withdraw this matter.
This was due to insufficient evidence they had on the file at this stage to sustain the charge against the three defendants.
Magistrate Emily Vagibule Pakoa granted the application for an adjournment and adjourned the matter to March 27.
That is when the prosecution will confirm the court as to whether they will be proceeding on further with this matter or have it withdrawn.
The three defendants allegedly entered the Holiday Resort Motel armed with bush knives in the early hours of 20 January 2023.
One of the defendants also wounded a victim who was a Chinese national and then escaped with $100, 000 including Chinese currency.
Police had recovered a hand bag during the arrest of the three defendants but a huge amount of money is yet to be recovered.
Husband to face High Court for murder trial
THE matter of a man whose wife died days after he allegedly assaulted her during the festive season last year has already been committed to the High Court for trial.
Philip Basikekero, 56, is facing the murder of his wife on Christmas Day, 25 December 2022.
His matter was brought to the Honiara Magistrate’s Court for the renewal of his remand warrant.
Magistrate Emily Vagibule Pakoa, having extended Basikekero’s remand warrant to March 27, said that would be the final date for the extension of his remand warrant at the Magistrate’s Court.
She said after March 27, Basikekero’s matter will be brought to the High Court for mention and extensions of his remand warrant.
Principal Magistrate Fatima Taeburi had, on a previous court date, committed Basikekero’s matter to the High Court.
This was after she found sufficient evidence against him to face trial in the High Court following a committal hearing.
Basikekero allegedly punched and kicked his wife’s head several times during an argument between them on Christmas Day.
They were allegedly drinking alcohol and celebrating the festive season when an argument broke out between them.
Two days after the incident, his wife complained about a severe headache and attended the National Referral Hospital (NRH).
Four days after visiting NRH, Basikekero’s wife acted strangely and was rushed to the NRH where she died a few hours later.
Benham Ifuto’o of the Public Solicitor’s Office represents Basikekero, while Public Prosecutor Nickson Tonowane appeared for the Crown yesterday.
Man will plead to bottle shop break-in
A YOUNG man accused of being part of a group of men who broke into a bottle shop at Kukum, Honiara and stole 83 cartons of alcohol will plead to the allegation on March 27.
Joe Ririmae, who faces one count of Shop Breaking appeared in the Honiara Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
His matter was listed for plea yesterday but his lawyer was not present.
A lawyer from the Public Solicitor’s Office, Rochelle Palmer, told the court that her colleague Paul None is sick.
She also tendered a copy of the sick leave to the court but Magistrate Emily Vagibule Pakoa said the sick leave had already expired on Sunday.
Ms Palmer said she did not have any instructions from None.
However, she said she saw an unsigned sentencing submission and mitigation on the file.
Magistrate Pakoa said the presiding magistrate on this matter is also on sick leave.
The court was also informed that the prosecutor in this matter is currently in Isabel on a court circuit.
Magistrate Pakoa having heard from both counsels, adjourned the matter for plea and sentencing submissions and mitigation.
Ririmae’s other co-accused, including a 15-year-old juvenile, were already sentenced to various prison terms for this offence.
It was alleged that on an unknown date between 3 and 4 February this year, from about 4am to 5am, Ririmae and his co-accused broke into a bottle shop at Kukum.
The complainant in this matter is the owner of the Low Price Enterprise in Honiara.
They allegedly entered the bottle shop by breaking into the front window of the shop.
After the window was opened, the juvenile and another young boy climbed into the space and went into the shop.
They carried the cartons of beer and passed the cartons through the open window to other boys who were waiting outside.
The items stolen were a carton of Sara Special, 22 cartons of Canoe Blue, 13 Cartons of Whiskey
Cola, 32 Cartons of Solbrew Can, 15 cartons of Saratoga and 12 bottles of Solbrew.
The total value of the stolen items is $19,530.
