Man acquitted of murder charge due to weak evidence

A man accused of a deadly attack in Suva is now a free man after the Suva High Court ruled there was not enough reliable evidence to convict him of murder.

Ledua Vakaloloma had faced a charge over the 2022 death of 24‑year‑old Lemeki Duidogo, who suffered a fatal head injury during an altercation outside a nightclub area in Suva.

It was alleged that Vakaloloma struck Duidogo with an iron rod, causing serious injuries.

The victim was rushed to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

But after reviewing all testimony and evidence, the court found that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Vakaloloma was the person responsible.

Delivering the judgment today, Judge Justice Sainiu Fa’alogo Bull reminded the court that every accused person is presumed innocent unless the charge is clearly proven.

Medical evidence confirmed that Duidogo died from severe brain bleeding caused by blunt‑force trauma to the head.

Police witnesses said that he was struck with a metal pipe during a late‑night altercation.

However, key witnesses admitted they had been drinking heavily, and the area where the incident happened was poorly lit.

Justice Bull noted inconsistencies in witness accounts and uncertainty in identifying the attacker.

While the court accepted that the victim was fatally struck, it ruled the identification evidence against Vakaloloma was not strong or reliable enough to support a conviction.

The court acquitted and discharged him of the murder charge.

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