TWO men have been found guilty of murdering a 13-year-old girl at Temela in the Reef Islands, Temotu Province in 2022.
Submissions on the minimum term they will serve in prison before they are considered for parole will be made tomorrow.
John Tealava, 73, and Patrick Paikai 55, were convicted on Saturday of the murder of 13-year-old Dorothy Alice Tetule on 12 September 2022.
The trial was conducted during a High Court circuit in Lata recently.
During the trial, the prosecution called 13 witnesses, while Tealava gave a dock statement, and Paikai gave sworn evidence.
The Crown’s case was that the two accused accosted Dorothy Alice Tetule, a young girl, on Temela beach on Fenualoa island while she was sitting there after accompanying her mother and little brother to the garden.
It was also the case for the Crown that the girl was well, active and happy on their way to the beach and after picking tava fruits, and washing and eating them at the seaside.
Dorothy had an argument with her little brother and remained sitting while her mother, after collecting firewood along the beach, set off for the village with him.
The mother, upon realizing that Dorothy was lagging behind, called to her to join them quickly.
At one point when Dorothy’s mother turned to check on Dorothy, Dorothy was not where she was sitting. The mother therefore walked back towards the spot, stopped and called for her.
There was no response, and the mother thought that Dorothy was a strong girl and might have taken a path in-land back to the village.
The mother then proceeded to the village, only to realize that her daughter was not in the village.
A search then ensued and Dorothy’s body was located on Temela beach by some boys who were shooting flying foxes.
The motive behind the incident was rooted in a dispute over payment for labor in relation to a school building project that was headed by the deceased’s father.
Judge Ronald Bei Talasasa Jr, in his judgement concluded that Dorothy’s killing was intentional as the accused Tealava had earlier threatened to kill any of the sisters if he had the opportunity of meeting them in the bush.
It was also the crown’s case that Tealava and Paikai, who were seen at Temela beach within the vicinity where Dorothy was seen alive and later seen dead, were responsible for her death.
The Defence claimed that Tealava and Paikai had nothing to do with Dorothy’s death and did not visit Temela beach that afternoon.
However, a witness saw the accused coming out of the bush, and another witness saw Paikai paddling out of the village at Malapu.
Justice Talasasa Jnr said Tealava has expressed his desire to harm the family of the deceased given he had the opportunity of meeting them.
He said prosecution witness told court about the threats he heard from conversation between Tealava and his wife.
Judge Talasasa said in his final analysis that he had no qualms in accepting the evidence of the prosecution’s witnesses on the crucial and material evidence.
He accepted the prosecution’s evidence, finding the two accused were at Temela beach at the same time as Dorothy and ruled that the Crown has proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Defence counsels Stanley Aupai and Daniel Onorio from the Public Solicitor’s Office represented the defendants, while Public Prosecutors Samuel Tovosia and Herrick Lautalo appeared on behalf of the Crown.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star,
