The man accused of murdering his five month-old pregnant wife at northwest Guadalcanal has been committed to stand trial at the High Court.
This followed a short form preliminary inquiry conducted on his matter on Tuesday in the Honiara Magistrates’ Court.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Shepherd Lapo having looked through the committal documents was satisfied that there was sufficient evidence for Edward Sikua Liua to stand trial in the High Court.
Liua will appear next in the High Court on a date to be fixed by the High Court.
He is facing one count of murder in relation to the allegation on 19 October last year at Rauni village in northeast Guadalcanal.
Prosecution alleged Sikua thrust his foot at his wife’s belly as she was lying helpless on the ground.
Upon realising his wife was no longer moving, Liua then rushed into the bush to fetch her herbal medicine only to return to see his wife in her 20’s already dead.
The alleged incident occurred following an argument between them that afternoon which the unhappy Liua threw a dried husked coconut at his wife that landed on her back.
Prosecution alleged that Liua then whipped his wife’s legs and hands with a bush knife.
The deceased fell on a wheelbarrow and the accused allegedly pushed her off it.
Having landed on the ground, the accused then started to thrust his leg at his five month old pregnant wife’s belly.
That was when blood allegedly oozed out of the deceased’s mouth.
Earlier in the morning, Liua’s wife went to GPPOL market to sell betel-nut, cake and lemon and after selling her items returned home before the incident occurred in the afternoon.
All these alleged incidents were allegedly seen by the couple’s eight year-old daughter.
The couple have five children.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
