TWO women accused of attacking another woman at the Tetere Estate Office compound of the Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil Limited (GPPOL 2) in Guadalcanal Province will be taking their pleas on October 14.
Anna Vathagi, 29 and Lisa Kope, 40, are facing the charge of Unlawful Wounding.
They both appeared in the Honiara Magistrate Court on Monday and their matter was adjourned to take their pleas.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea also made direction for the Public Solicitor’s Office (PSO) to allocate a lawyer for the two defendants in the course of the adjournment.
The court has imposed strict bail conditions on the two defendants and one of them is not to interfere with the complainant/victim or prosecution witnesses.
It was also heard the two defendants had already reconciled with the alleged victim.
The two defendants are related as sisters-in-law, whilst the alleged victim is the best friend of the defendant Vathagi.
The prosecution alleged that the two defendants attacked the victim whilst she was at work on 2 July this year.
The victim was busy preparing chemical for spray at the GGPOL 2 Tetere Estate Office chemical shed when the two defendants approached her.
It was alleged that Kope restrained the victim, whilst Vathagi used a stone to hit the victim’s head twice.
The victim was unconscious and fell to the ground.
Whilst she was on the ground, Kope allegedly continued restraining her, whilst Vathagi continued hitting her (victim’s) head.
The victim struggled and cried for help and with the assistance of her two co-workers, she was freed from the two defendants.
She was taken to the GPPOL 2 Clinic for medical treatment.
Prior to the incident, the victim allegedly arranged for a girl to have sex with Vathagi’s husband.
The issue was then taken to the GPPOL 2 chiefs for hearing and they conducted the hearing at the Tetere Police Station.
At that hearing, Vathagi’s husband and the girl admitted to having sexual relations.
The chief then charged Vathagi’s husband and the girl to pay $1,000 as compensation to Vathagi and they paid the compensation.
Also prior to the incident, the alleged victim in this matter and Vathagi were best friends and it was because of the friendship that the victim’s action angered Vathagi.
Public Prosecutor Herrick Lautalo is appearing on behalf of the Crown in this case.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
