An 18-year-old who is alleged to have robbed and mur­dered 60-year-old taxi driver Satya Pillay along Qiolevu Road, last week was refused bail in the Nausori Magistrates Court yester­day.

First year Navuso Agriculture School student, Noeli Jack Tamani­kaisau, appeared before Magistrate Tomasi Bainivalu, charged with one count each of murder and robbery and three counts of theft.

When his right to counsel was put to him, he sought the court’s assis­tance to acquire Legal Aid service for his case.

Divisional Police Officer Inspector Yasin Ali requested for the accused’s plea to be deferred and the matter be transferred to the High Court as it was an indictable offence.

Inspector Ali also objected to bail on the grounds that the case was of public interest and for the interest of justice as it is a serious offence.

He said the accused has a pending burglary and theft case of which he was on bail for when he allegedly murdered Mr Pillay between Sep­tember 26 and 27.

Magistrate Bainivalu ordered that the accused be remanded at the Suva Correctional Facility and ad­journed the matter to October 19, for first call in the Suva High Court.

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