Police charge girl with murder
AN 18-year-old girl accused of the murder of her new born baby in 2015 will be appearing again at the Honiara Magistrate’s Court again on September 29.
The girl fronted the court on Thursday for the mention of her matter and was further remanded in custody.
The alleged incident occurred during last year’s Christmas night (25 December, 2015) at a village in Russell Island, Central Province.
Prosecution alleged the accused gave birth to a baby at the sea side of their village.
She was doing her form three education at one of the provincial secondary schools in 2015 but could not continue further due to some unknown reasons.
It was alleged that in June 2015 she lived with a man in Western Province and got pregnant.
Prosecution alleged that on the night of 25 December 205 at her village in Central Province, she gave birth to a baby at the sea side.
She went to the sea side with another girl saying she wants to use the toilet there.
At the sea side, the girl who accompanied the accused attended to where the accused was and saw a baby laying in front of her shaking and crying.
She allegedly picked up the baby thinking of taking the baby to the accused’s parents but the accused however removed the baby from her and walked back to the alleged birth site.
At the birth site, it was alleged the accused lifted the baby into the air and threw it against the sharp stones/rocks.
The baby was alleged to have died instantly with no sign of the baby crying or making any movements.
The accused then allegedly buried the baby in a shaded site inside the village and warned the girl who accompanied her not to reveal what happened to anyone.
The girl who accompanied the accused however, allegedly revealed what happened to one of her aunties and they attended the burial site, dug up the baby and brought it to the parent of the accused.
The matter was reported to police and on 15 February this year the accused was invited to the Yandina Police Station where she denied the allegations and told police she gave birth to a dead baby.
The accused was then released without her being charged.
The file was then forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, seeking legal advice on the nature of the incident and status of the matter.
On 25 July this year, investigators received formal advice from the ODPP office directing them to a bit of work on the matter before charging the accused.
The accused was located on 30 August this year and her arrest was formally administered before she was escorted to Honiara where she was charged with one count of murder.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN