Court seeks fresh psychiatric report on Naqali murder accused

Murder accused Samuela Dasalusalu has been ordered to undergo a second psychiatric evaluation.

Dasalusalu, who faces one count of murder, appeared before Justice Daniel Goundar at the High Court in Suva today.

He is accused of killing a 16‑year‑old girl in Naqali Village, Naitasiri, earlier this year.

Justice Goundar read the initial psychiatric report from Saint Giles Psychiatric Hospital, which stated that Dasalusalu had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was not fit to take a plea.

The court had asked the court clerk to translate questions to the accused. However, Dasalusalu responded in English and answered the questions.

He told the court that although no family members had visited him at the Suva Remand Centre, he had been taking medication prescribed by doctors, which he said had been helping him. He also said the Remand Centre had recently stopped the treatment because of minor side effects.

State prosecutor Pream Ram applied for a further psychiatric evaluation to assess any changes in his mental state.

Justice Goundar said the reassessment needed to be carried out promptly, noting that the court could not continue to hold him in custody if he was unfit to plead.

Legal Aid Commission lawyer Mesake Waqanivanua was appointed as duty solicitor for Dasalusalu given the seriousness of the charge.

The matter has been adjourned to March 27.