A 21-year-old man who is alleged to have murdered his 19-year-old partner at Colo-i-Suva in June has pleaded guilty to the charge.

Suliasi Fuata appeared before Justice Thushara Rajasinghe at the High Court in Suva yesterday.

Fuata is charged with one count of murder.

It is alleged that on June 28, 2019, at Colo-i-Suva, Fuata murdered Salanieta Leba.

Leba was rushed to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Fuata was represented by Legal Aid lawyer Kemueli Verebalavu.

The state prosecution was represented by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Elizabeth Rice. Fuata told the court that he had pleaded guilty on his own free will.  He told the court that he was not forced or threatened nor made any promises to plead guilty to the charge. He also told the court that he had understood the consequences of his guilty plea to the murder charge.

The case was adjourned to August 27 for the summary of facts to be presented.

Fuata was remanded in custody.

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

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