A trial scheduled for this week in connection to the four men accused of arson and shooting at the Mbike Island Resort in Ngella, Central Islands Province in December 2014 have been vacated in the High Court.
The trial was set to start before Judge Emmanuel Kouhota on Monday 19 August, but the judge was overseas, resulting in the vacation of the trial.
New dates for the trial will be set when the judge returns to the country.
This was not the first delay, as previous trial dates were also vacated due to various reasons, including insufficient financial resources to prepare for the trial.
Additionally, a trial listing earlier this year was cancelled when Judge Leonard Maina was re-assigned to hear civil cases.
The prosecution also faced challenges as prosecution witnesses were unavailable due to financial constraints that hindered their ability to gather witnesses, and complete essential pre-trial preparations.
The matter was then allocated to Judge Kouhota.
In 2023, the trial was vacated due to the non-appearance of two crucial prosecution witnesses.
It was further delayed in 2024 as the defence counsel was busy with campaigning activities of a candidate in the National General Elections (NGE).
The four accused, Jim Aita, Aikan Maelausia, Harrison Niumalefo, and Billy Kanakana Ringasui face charges of Attempted Murder, willful and Unlawful Damage of Property, Attempt to Destroy Property by Explosives, Possession of Firearm without Firearm Licence, Possession of Ammunition without Firearm Licence and Discharging Firearm in Public.
The allegations stem from events on 9 December 2014 at the Mbike Island resort in Gela, Central Province.
On afternoon of 8 December 2014, a boat operating under the Breakwater Cafe in Honiara transported 17 Members of Parliament to the Mbike Island Resort.
The MPs were out on a retreat ahead of the Prime Minister’s election the following day.
It was alleged that between 2am and 3am of 9 December, a group of armed men arrived at the resort in a fiberglass boat with firearms.
They allegedly fired at Sun Express boat and towards the resort where the Members of Parliament were camping.
The accused allegedly poured petrol at the back of Sun Express before setting it alight.
However, the flames spread to their own boat, causing them to flee in fear.
The crew members of Sun Express quickly attended to the fire and managed to put it off.
After inspecting the boat and determining it was still operational, the Members of Parliament and others at the resort boarded it and returned to Honiara in time to participate in the Prime Minister’s Election.
The four accused allegedly fled back to Bare Foot fuel depot where they were later transported to Honiara on a private boat.
The police alleged that the group then burned the outboard motor-powered canoe they used in the mission to conceal its identity and ownership.
Private lawyer John Taupongi represents all accused, while Public Prosecutor John Wesley Zoze is prosecuting.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
