The High Court in Lautoka has granted state lawyer Sheenal Swastika 21 days to file the proposed pretrial conference documents in the case of murder accused Osea Mataitoga.

Mataitoga is alleged to have murdered Sesha Reddy and his wife Mirdu Chandra on February 2, 2021, near Lawai, Sigatoka.

Mataitoga is charged with two counts of murder and one count of robbery.

The matter was heard before Judge, Justice Riyaz Hamza on Monday and Mataitoga was represented by Kemueli Verebalavu.

Ms Swastika said she would be filing the voir dire disclosures and additional disclosures which included the postmortem examination report and crime scene photographs and she served the same to Mr Verebalavu.

The court heard that the state also served a copy of the reconstruction of scene DVDs, however, Mr Verebalavu said he requested the caution interview statement and Ms Swastika said she would provide the same to the defence.

Ms Swastika sought time to file the proposed pretrial conference documents and Mr Verebalavu also sought 21 days to file a response to the voir dire and additional disclosures filed by the state.

Justice Hamza adjourned the matter to July 6 for mention and extended bail for Mataitoga.

Story by: salote.qalubau@fijisun.com.fj