THE key suspect in the 2020 Sisikwae murder case in West Kwara’ae in Malaita Province last Thursday gave evidence under oath in the Auki High Court Circuit about his involvement in the murder.
The prosecution opened their case on the matter on 18th April 2023 and closed it on Thursday 20th April, 2023.
The defense then opened their case on Thursday and closed it after the defendant gave evidence under oath in court.
The defendant gave details in court about what happened in the lead up to the murder of the 40-year-old male victim.
The murder occurred on 9 September 2020 when the suspect cut the left hand of the deceased, which led to his death.
According to the defendant, on that day, the deceased and his father went to their house and asked for his mother who was not at home at the time.
The duo then called the defendant to follow them, and on the way, they attacked him on the left side of his head, knocking him unconscious on the ground.
The defendant told the court that after he regained his consciousness, he saw the attacker whom the victim was standing 30-40 metres away from.
The defendant told the court that he was afraid that the attacker might re-attack him so he went back to his house and grabbed a bush knife he found under the table on the verandah of his house.
He took the knife and ran after his attacker uphill and just before he caught the deceased, he toppled and fell, allowing the deceased to further escape.
However, it was heard that the deceased for some reason turned around and fell along a hill, giving the defendant the opportunity to attack him.
According to the defendant, when the victim fell, he raised his hands up and that was when the defendant jumped beside him and cut his left hand with the knife.
When the court asked the defendant why he attacked the deceased, he said he was afraid that the deceased might re-attack him.
According to police report, “the deceased got married to a woman from Sisikwae Village and they had four children.
The police report stated that the deceased’s wife had three extra marital affairs within the same village and one of the affairs she had was with the defendant.
The report stated that the wife of the deceased had been sick for almost a year and had been admitted at the Kilu’ufi Hospital where she died on 7 September 2020 after confessing her affairs with the three men from her village.
The police report released during the time of the arrest stated that, “On Wednesday 9 September 2020, after the burial of his wife, the deceased and his son went down to the main village at Sisikwae and attacked one of the persons mentioned by his wife in her confession.”
The report further revealed that, “The attack left the person unconscious and after regaining his consciousness, he took his long bush knife and chased after the deceased.”
It is alleged that the prime suspect met up with the deceased and cut the left hand of the deceased who died instantly from the loss of blood.
The matter was then adjourned for 24th April, 2023 at 9:30am for the court to deliver its judgment.
Prosecutor John Wesley Zoze from the Director of Public Prosecution is prosecuting the matter and representing the two defendants is Oxley Limeniala from the Public Solicitors Office.
By WILSON SAENI in Auki
