Assessors’ Opinion: Soldier Guilty Of Attempted Murder

A soldier accused of trying to murder his partner by allegedly trying to drown her at Colo-i-Suva last year has been found guilty by the assessors.

The soldier Rajiv Krishnan Padyachi, 30, appeared before Judge Justice Chamath Morais on Tuesday at the High Court in Suva for his summing up of the trial.

The accused is alleged to have attempted to drown his 35-year-old partner while swimming in the Colo-i-Suva pool after they agreed to go for an early morning swim on September 15, 2018.

A team of Police officers heard the woman’s cry for help and managed to save her and arrest the accused.

The complainant had sustained injuries during the alleged incident.

Padyachi was represented by lawyer Gavin O’Driscoll while the State was represented by Shirley Tivao, Sheenal Swastika and Yogesh Prasad from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The three assessors delivered their unanimous verdict of guilty of attempted murder yesterday.

The matter has been adjourned for judgment tomorrow.

Padyachi has been further remanded in custody.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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