Josua Lalauvaki Case: Rights Body’s Application Dismissed

The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission’s (FHRADC) application to intervene in the matter of two suspended Police officers facing murder charges has been dismissed.
Kelepi Duri Tautaumacala Kolinisau and Ratu Selema Steven Dennis Tikoenaburevere charged in connection with the death of Kiuva villager Josua Lalauvaki, 26, appeared before High Court judge Justice Vinsent Perera yesterday.
They are jointly charged with one count of murder.
The two suspended Police officers allegedly assaulted Mr Lalauvaki after an altercation outside a Suva nightclub on September 2, 2018.
Mr Lalauvaki died at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital on October 11, 2018, as a result of injuries he suffered from the alleged assault.
In court yesterday, Justice Perera told Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission’s lawyer Romanu Vananalagi that the FHRADC’s application to intervene in the matter and or act as an interested party in the case was misconceived.
He warned the lawyer not to continue with a similar type of conduct in future and dismissed the application for the Human Rights Commission to intervene in the matter.
State prosecutor from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Swastika Sharma told the court that the agreed facts were yet to be sorted before the trial proper.
She asked to be given two weeks to finalise the agreed facts.
The matter was adjourned to May 9 for mention.
Bail was extended for both accused persons.
Edited by Epineri Vula