A MAN who survived an alleged murder attempt has refuted claims that he and another crew member had directed Tevita Qaqa Kapawale to dump Qiritavabea Cagilabakomeli’s injured body in the sea.
Kaminieli Tucama was cross-examined yesterday on day two of Mr Kapawale’s murder trial before Justice Dane Tuiqereqere at the High Court in Suva.
Mr Kapawale is charged with the murders of Benjamin Semuel Mattaputty, Eme Warma, Alfat Kodri, Samuela Sukera and Qiritavabea Cagilabakomeli.
He is also charged with the attempted murder of Kaminieli Tucama and criminally intimidating Mitieli Cama, while aboard the fishing boat MV Tiro II in May 2021.
Defence lawyer Tobia Ravuniwa put to Mr Tucama several theories on what transpired on the day of the incident and the inconsistencies in his police statements.
Mr Ravuniwa told the witness it was plausible that there had been a fight on the vessel between Mr Cagilabakomeli and Mr Cama (bosun) whom the witness confirmed he is related to. The lawyer said the fight started because Mr Cama had allegedly taken away the bycatch meant to be shared among crew members.
During the fight, the lawyer said, Mr Cama was stabbed either on his back or stomach and when the witness saw this, he sided with his relative, Mr Cama.
He said the duo then forced Mr Kapawale to toss Mr Cagilabakomeli’s injured body overboard. Continuing on this theory, the lawyer said Mr Tucama then prepared a life raft after doing checks around the ship with Mr Cama while the accused was hiding behind a stack of bags.
He said when Mr Kapawale saw the witness handling the raft, he immediately jumped into the sea. This then prompted the two men to scream at the accused, saying they’d blame him for what occurred in the vessel.
But Mr Tucama said he could not have pushed the life raft by himself since it require at least four or five men to haul it because of its weight.
The trial continues today. with Mr Cama taking the stand.
