The defence in the case of accused murderer Samuel Naicker has been given time to respond to the State’s proposed facts.
In August this year, Mr Naicker pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder, where he was alleged to have strangled a 17-year-old boy at a house in Makoi in June.
The matter was called for pre-trial conference before High Court judge Justice Siainiu Fa’alogo Bull, in the High Court at Suva last week.
State prosecutor Zenith Zunaid told the court the State was awaiting a response on its proposed facts.
The Legal Aid lawyer, appearing on instructions of the officer in carriage in the matter, Krishneel Chang, said she confirmed receipt of the proposed facts and sought 14 days to respond.
Mr Zunaid clarified there might have been a delay in the response because Mr Naicker was admitted at Twomey Hospital at Tamavua with tuberculosis.
He said the State was relying on partial admissions in Mr Naicker’s caution interview and the evidence of his sister and mother, as the accused allegedly made confessions to them.
Mr Naicker’s bail application was also called before Justice Bull.
The defence counsel asked if the bail hearing could be vacated and the defence given seven days to file a supplementary affidavit in the bail application.
Justice Bull granted the defence’s application. The bail application will be called for hearing on January 16, 2023, while the substantive file will be called for further pre-trial conference on February 9.
