Kunawave Says His Story Was Not Made Up
A 26-year-old former soldier told the court that he did not deliberately throw the concrete block at his wife or daughter.
Friday 13 November 2020 | 08:22
Tevita Kunawave outside the High Court in Suva on November 11, 2020. Photo: Ashna Kumar
A 26-year-old former soldier told the court that he did not deliberately throw the concrete block at his wife or daughter.
Tevita Kunawave charged with murder of his four-month-old daughter, Suliana Talemaitoga Kunawave appeared before Justice Daniel Goundar for the eighth day of his trial yesterday.
He was cross examined by the prosecution of his evidence given on Tuesday.
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Kunawave is alleged to have thrown a concrete block which seriously injured his daughter resulting in her death on October 27, 2019.
The state is represented by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions from the Office of the DPP, Elizabeth Rice.
Kunawave is represented by counsels Thomson Lee and Watisoni Navuni from the Legal Aid Commission.
Trial day 8:
Kunawave told the court that he did not throw the block with intentions to hurt his wife or daughter.
He told the court that he picked the block and threw it at the shutter frame and not inside the house; the block fell outside and broke.
When the prosecution questioned Kunawave if he lied in court about the block falling outside the window, he responded that he did not lie.
Kunawave was confident about his side of the story, saying it was not made up.
He told the court that he had punched his wife, however, he did not kick her on her ribs nor pulled her by her hair and took her in their bedroom and assaulted her with a belt.
He also told the court that he apologised in court on Tuesday because he felt remorseful towards his wife, parents and daughters.
Edited by Selita Bolanavanua
Feedback: ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj
