A man who made medicine and gave it to sick women told the court yesterday that he was not a qualified doctor.

Vinend Kumar, a market vendor, gave evidence before Suva Judge Justice Salesi Temo, in a trial where he is facing charges of attempted rape and murder.

Justice Temo asked him whether he had any qualification to which he said no.

The alleged incident happened on July 15, 2013, in Malele, Tavua, where Kumar was a labourer for a Lautoka company.

The deceased was 51 years old at the time of the offence.

He told the court that she was sickly and he had made some medicine for her to make her better.

The court heard the deceased had given him gold to keep, which he later sold.

Kumar told the court that when he went to her place to conduct an annual prayer on July 15, she called him to her room and asked him about the gold

He further told the court that after he told her that he had sold the gold, she became angry, yelled at him and even claimed that she slapped him and tried to grab his collar.

He further told the court that she went out of the house to get a grog pounding iron rod.

He alleged her told him that she was going to kill him and when she tried to hit him, he blocked it with his hand and grabbed the iron rod.

He further said that after he got hold of the iron rod, he hit her with it. When she fell, he said, all he did was pick up his bag and ran away.

He said he did not know where he had hit her.

Kumar said he had surrendered himself at the Lautoka Police Station. He alleged Police officers had assaulted him and that some of the caution interview answers were not given on his own free will.

The trial continues today.

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

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