POLICE investigation into the matter of a man who allegedly robbed a house at Panatina Ridge in East Honiara and attacked a Korean couple therein is yet to be completed, it was heard in court Wednesday.
The defendant Samson Damisulia, 32, is facing two counts of Armed Robbery.
The complainants aged 62 and 59 are from Korea but are Solomon Islands citizens.
Public Prosecutor Francisca Luza yesterday told the court that investigation was still incomplete.
She said there are still some outstanding documents consisting of the forensic photo album, medical report and two statements yet to be obtained by Police.
She therefore asked for a 14-day adjournment which Principal Magistrate Elma Veenah Rizzu Hilly granted.
Damisulia is yet to be allocated a lawyer.
When asked by Principal Magistrate Hilly if he had already made a request to the Public Solicitor’s Office for a lawyer, Damisulia said he did make two requests but was yet to be allocated a lawyer.
An on-duty lawyer who was in court yesterday said she would follow up the defendant’s request and ensure the allocation of a lawyer for him.
Having heard from both counsels, Principal Magistrate Hilly adjourned the matter till October 10.
She said on that date, the prosecution will update the court on the status of investigation.
Principal Magistrate Hilly also ordered Police to complete their investigation by then and that the PSO allocate a lawyer for the defendant.
The defendant is also expected to confirm his lawyer on that date.
This matter relates to an allegation on 7 September 2023 at Panatina Ridge when the couple were sleeping ‘peacefully’ in their home that night.
However, between 2am and 3am, the husband got woken by the sound a pop-up message on his phone from his son in Korea.
Whilst he was reading the message, he heard noises coming from the living room but thought that his wife who must have woken.
His bedroom door was opened and so he looked out and saw two men walking around in his living room.
When the husband approached the defendant and his co-defendant who is still at large, one of them pulled out a screw driver from his bag and attacked the husband.
The husband received a heavy blow from an object to his left eye and shouted before he fell to the floor unconsciously.
The wife who was in another room woke up from her husband’s shout and rushed outside where she saw his husband was attacked.
The two defendants also attacked the wife when she was trying to assist her husband.
She received a wound in the right side of her head and was bleeding.
It was alleged that she called for help but no one was able to assist her because her neighbours were also afraid to come out.
The defendant and his co-defendant then fled the scene with three mobile phones and $1,200 cash.
The wife then assisted her husband inside their private car to the National Referral Hospital, though she was bleeding heavily from her head injury.
The matter was reported to police later in the morning.
The defendant escaped to his home province Malaita but was arrested by police on September 15 and they escorted him back to Honiara on September 17.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
