- Ruling on bail for alleged young arsonist, Wednesday
- Man denies raping woman, 24
- Sent sub, mitigation next on grand-uncle’s matter
Ruling on bail for alleged young arsonist, Wednesday
RULING on a bail application made for a 19 year-old man facing several arson charges will be made in court on Wednesday.
John Lesapa, 19, was remanded in custody after his arrest following allegations he burnt down several houses and kitchen in north Guadalcanal in April this year.
His lawyer had on Tuesday made a bail application for him before Principal Magistrate Fatima Taeburi.
Magistrate Taeburi having heard from the defence counsel reserved her ruling to today.
Lesapa and Alex Joseph, 46, were both charged with seven counts of arson. This is in relation to the arson incident that occurred at Teubala Village on 5 April this year.
Prosecution alleged that the initial incident involve a group of people from Teubala who allegedly went to Ghavagha Village to ask compensation.
The compensation sought was in relation to an assault incident that happened at Teubala on 3 April this year.
It was alleged that while they were still negotiation the compensation, the group from Ghavagha, armed with knives, spears and stones attacked the group from Teubala.
It was then alleged that they continue to attack and chase them towards Teubala.
At Teubala, the alleged attackers then burned down several houses and kitchens.
Man denies raping woman, 24
A MAN accused of raping a young woman at Henderson area, East of Honiara in 2019 had denied the allegation against him, Tueday.
The young man entered his not guilty plea before Justice Maelyn Bird on Tuesday morning.
The charge is in relation to an allegation on 10 August 2019 at Henderson area.
The alleged victim was only 24 years old at the time of the alleged offending.
Having entered his not guilty pleas, his matter was stood down for 1.30pm yesterday afternoon for bail conditions to be imposed on him.
Rodney Manebosa of Public Solicitor’s Office had filed a bail application for his client.
The prosecution on the other hand did not object to the bail application but for the court to impose strict bail conditions.
Having imposed the bail conditions, Justice Bird adjourned the matter to June 17 for a pre-trial conference.
Public Prosecutor Hellen Naqu is prosecuting.
Sent sub, mitigation next on grand-uncle’s matter
SENTENCING submissions and mitigation on the matter of a man accused of indecently touching his grand-niece in Honiara back in 2017 will be made in court on June 8.
The man who cannot be named to protect the identity of the alleged victim because they are related had pleaded guilty to one count of indecent act with a child under 15.
He appeared before Justice Maelyn Bird at the High Court yesterday and his matter was further adjourned for prosecution to settle the agreed facts in the meantime.
The sentencing and for sentencing submissions and mitigation to be made on the next date.
The accused was initially charged with one count of sexual intercourse with a child under 15 but that charge was later reduced to the current charge after a proposition from the defence.
The victim in this matter was under 13 years of age when the incident occurred in Honiara in December 2017.
Daniel Kwalai from the Public Solicitor’s Office is representing the accused while Public Prosecutor Margaret Suifa’asia is prosecuting.
