Padyachi Trial: Witness Says, Complainant Told Him Her Life Was In Danger

The trial of a former soldier Rajiv Krishnan Padyachi, 30, who is charged with attempted murder continued yesterday.

The second prosecution witness, Police Constable Ropate Sivo, 36, who is based at the Police Special Response Unit, revealed in court that the complainant, when rescued, had told him that her life was in danger.

Padyachi appeared before Judge Justice Chamath Morais at the High Court in Suva.

The accused is alleged to have attempted to drown his 35-year-old partner while swimming in Colo-i-Suva pool on September 15, 2018. A team of Police officers heard the woman’s cry for help and managed to save her and arrested the accused. The complainant sustained injuries during the alleged incident.

Day 3 Trial

Constable Sivo told the court they were supposed to go to the Olympic Pool for training, however, diverted to the Colo-i-Suva forest pools.

He was part of the boxing team of 23 boxers who went for the training.

When they were walking towards the lower pool, he heard a female shouting for help and directed the officers to run down and see what was happening.

Constable Sivo upon reaching the pool saw a female so he instructed the officers to help him. With another officer, they jumped into the pool and assisted the female.

Constable Sivo told the court that when he got hold of the female, her clothes were torn, she had scratch marks on her body.

He said the female told him that “this one tried to kill me” referring to the accused.

Padyachi was represented by lawyer Gavin O’Driscoll while the prosecution team had Shirley Tivao, Sheenal Swastika and Yogesh Prasad from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The trial continues today.

Edited by Percy Kean

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