THE two survivors onboard the fishing vessel Tiro II should have been charged because of the overwhelming evidence against them.
Lawyer Tobia Ravuniwa said this during his client Tevita Qaqa Kapawale’s closing submission before High Court judge Justice Dane Tuiqereqere.
Mr Ravuniwa said the explanation from Kaminieli Tucama and Mitieli Cama, as to how they survived for long hours in the fish hold and engine room was not good. Mr Kapawale is charged with the attempted murder of Mr Tucama and criminally intimidating Mr Cama in May 2021.
Mr Ravuniwa also asked the court not to consider the Fiji Sun interview conducted by a Fiji Sun investigative journalist, labelling it as “ludicrous”.
However, state lawyer Triveshni Sharma said it was evident that “guilt and shame ate him (Mr Kapawale) alive” because, in his caution interview, he denied having any involvement. However, a year later he confessed to his friend and people at his village and to a journalist.
