Justice Salesi Temo found that Alesi Ranadi was a more credible witness

Three men were convicted of murder by the High Court in Suva yesterday.

Josaia Vusuya, Kelepi Qaqa and Tevita Dakuituraqa were found to have murdered Epineri Waqawai on July 18, 2015 at Nausori.

Qaqa was also convicted for act intended to cause grievous bodily harm.

Qaqa unlawfully wounded Savenaca Naitaba, the brother of the deceased, by hitting his head with a beer glass.

Justice Salesi Temo found that the third state witness, Alesi Ranadi, the owner of a BBQ stall, as a more credible witness.

Justice Temo said: “She was not related to any of the litigants in this trial and she was not related to the deceased and his brother Naitaba.

“She has been selling BBQ foods for the past 10 years and she has said that streetfights were a common occurrence in that area.”

The court heard that Qaqa and Dakuituraqa were attacking the deceased first before Vusuya joined in.

Ranadi, in her evidence, said that she saw Qaqa, Dakuituraqa and Vusuya repeatedly stomp the deceased on the face and chest.

She further said that they also repeatedly punched and swore at the deceased while he lay unconscious on the ground.

Justice Temo said that according to the post-mortem report, Waqawai, died of massive brain injuries.

The three will be sentenced later today.

Edited by Maraia Vula

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