Murder accused was calm when Police arrived, court told

The man accused of killing his pregnant de facto partner at a Suva apartment was calm and quiet when police first arrived at the scene, the High Court in Suva heard today.

Investigating officer Manasa Tulevu told the court he reached Waimanu Apartments in the early hours of April 24, 2024, after receiving a report of a disturbance.

He said the accused, Apisai Madigibuli, 27, was standing at the car park with the couple's young daughter and two security guards when he arrived.

Mr Tulevu said Madigibuli did not say much when asked what had happened. He described the accused as calm and not argumentative.

He said the child appeared frightened of her father at the time.

Mr Tulevu told the court he tried to enter room 103 but could not fully open the door. When he looked through the gap, he saw the victim's leg blocking the entrance and a pool of blood on the floor.

He said he immediately secured the area and called in the crime scene investigation team.

The court also heard from three forensic officers, Police Constable (PC) Inosi Salababa, Corporal Rovulo Rokotuitai, and PC Tiko Koto, who each described their roles at the crime scene.

Mr Rokotuitai told the court he collected blood samples from the scene and later recovered the knife from the victim's neck during the post-mortem at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital morgue in Suva.

Madigibuli is charged with one count of murder.

The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Dane Tuiqereqere.