PECELI Rokoravolo was convicted yesterday of killing prominent Nadi doctor Isireli Biumaitotoya at his home in August last year.
Justice Aruna Aluthge ruled at the High Court in Lautoka that the State had proven the elements of the charge of murder beyond reasonable doubt and agreed with the prosecution’s theory that Mr Rokoravolo was extorting money from Dr Biumaitotoya.
He found that Rokoravolo had gone to Dr Biumaitotoya’s Namaka home on the night of August 31 last year to collect $1000, which according to the evidence presented in court, was promised to him by Dr Biumaitotoya.
The court found that Rokoravolo was not acting in self-defence at the time of the murder and he was not provoked to kill Dr Biumaitotoya.
Justice Aluthge found there was overwhelming evidence that Rokoravolo was in an intimate relationship with Dr Biumaitotoya.
He found that Rokoravolo’s evidence on self-defence and provocation did not stand according to law and fell on the evidence presented by the prosecution.
Defence and State lawyers have been told to file sentencing submissions on August 28.
Rokoravolo was represented by Legal Aid Commission’s senior legal officer Losana Taukei while the State was represented by prosecutor Joeli Nasa.
Sentencing will be delivered by Justice Aluthge at 2pm on September 4.
