A prosecution witness in a manslaughter trial before the High Court in Suva told the court that she found her husband, Savenaca Masi, outside Senikau Bar in Suva.

The matter was called before Justice Vincent Perera yesterday.

It is alleged that on November 26, 2014 at Nadonumai, Lami, Sekope Toduadua (father), James Netani, Josese Rainima Tawake, Netani Takelo and Sekope Sivoduadua Toduadua (son) unlawfully killed Savenaca Masi.

Defence lawyer Priya Lal was representing Toduadua (father), Netani was represented by Christina Choy, Tawake was represented by Panapasa Tawake, Takelo was represented by Swarvana Prakesh and Toduadua (son) was represented by Aarti Prakesh.

The State is represented by Jullen Fatiaki and Eoghan Samisoni.

Prosecution witness: Meresiana Ligairi

Ms Fatiaki questioned Ms Ligairi on where she had found her husband, to which she said that she found him under a breadfruit tree where two boys were attending to him.

Ms Ligairi further said that the two boys had helped carry her husband to their house where he was lying on the porch.

She said when her mother-in-law came home she told her to take the husband to the hospital. At the hospital Ms Ligairi’s husband was taken straight to the emergency room because she had informed the nurse that the husband was allegedly assaulted by some boys.

During cross-examination Ms Lal referred to Ms Ligairi’s Police statement in 2014 in which she had stated that she had gone to Senikau Bar where she found her husband.

She also stated in the Police statement that the husband was heavily drunk and smelt of liquor.

Ms Ligairi denied the facts on the Police statement and told the court that she found her husband outside the Senikau Bar and further said that he was not heavily drunk.

Ms Lal put it to her that she was lying to court as her answers kept changing to which she said no.

The case continues today.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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