A NO-case to answer submission will be made in court next for three men on trial for allegedly attacking two men bush knives, resulting in one death, in Koivo Village in the Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil Limited (GPPOL 3) last May.
No date has been fixed as of yet for the hearing of the No-Case to Answer submissions, but that the defence was expected to file their submissions on Tuesday and the prosecution will respond by Friday.
The defendants, Timothy Sagia, 40, Stanley Norman, 24, and Steward Philip Tiva, 22, are on trial for the charges of Murder and Acts Intend to Cause Grievous Harm before Judge John Keniapisia.
Their lawyers informed the court they elected to make no-case to answer submission at the end of the prosecution’s case.
Prosecution closed their case on Friday after calling six witnesses.
The victims in this matter are 32-year-old Clive Pei (deceased) and Charles Pei, who are uncle and nephew.
It was alleged that on the evening of 6 May 2024, the two complainants and some friends were having a few beers following a celebration of a local church saint’s day at Koivo Village.
During this gathering, the defendants allegedly arrived at the scene and attacked the complainants with bush knives.
According to the allegations, prior to the incident, there had been an argument between the complainants and the defendants, which later escalated into the violent confrontation.
The allegations revealed that while the complainants were drinking at Celestine Voua’s house and listening to music, they observed torchlight flashes approaching.
As the torch lights drew near, the defendants appeared, armed with bush knives.
One of the defendants then raised a bush knife and struck Clive Pei on his backside.
Tiva further allegedly attacked Clive by stabbing him in the backside and then cutting his right arm with the same weapon.
It is alleged that Norman struck Clive Pei on his left leg, while Tiva also cut Charles (Sale) Pei on the face when he attempted to assist Clive.
Charles then fled the scene for his own safety.
Several villagers who witnessed the attack assisted in transporting them to Good Samaritan Hospital in Guadalcanal.
Due to the severity of the injuries, the complainants were later transferred to the National Referral Hospital (NRH) in Honiara, where they were admitted to the medical ward.
Tragically, Clive Pei succumbed to his injuries and passed away on 13 May 2024.
The three defendants are represented by defence counsels from the Public Solicitor’s Office, Benham Ifuto’o, Bobby Harunari and Rochelle Palmer.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
