Man guilty of brutal murder of 25-year-old woman

A man has been found guilty by the High Court in Suva of murdering a 25-year-old woman by stabbing her before forcing a condom stuffed with cloth into her mouth and strangling her.

Justice Pita Bulamainaivalu today convicted Anare Vuli Cililewa over the death of Shabreen Shain Ali after finding the State had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The court heard Ms Ali was killed during an argument with Cililewa in October last year. The prosecution alleged he stabbed her before forcing a condom filled with cloth into her mouth and strangling her.

In his judgment, Justice Bulamainaivalu said the evidence presented by the prosecution, including witness testimony, exhibits and agreed facts, clearly proved that Cililewa intended to cause Ms Ali's death or was reckless as to causing it.

The judge rejected the accused's evidence, describing him as an unreliable and not credible witness, and said no weight was given to his testimony.

Justice Bulamainaivalu accepted the evidence of the prosecution witnesses, finding it remained credible and was not significantly weakened during cross-examination.

He ruled that the prosecution had discharged its burden of proving the murder charge beyond reasonable doubt and convicted Cililewa under Section 237 of the Crimes Act 2009.

Both the State and the defence will file their sentencing submissions on July 28.

The court will deliver its sentencing ruling on July 31. Cililewa has 30 days to appeal the conviction to the Fiji Court of Appeal.

Caption: Anare Vuli Cililewa outside the High Court in Suva.