Accused Challenges Medical Doctors in Murder Trial

Manslaughter accused Laisiasa Rokobici challenged two medical doctors to find out what can guarantee that all people taken to the hospital will be healed and not die from their illnesses.

This was part of his testimony at the High Court in Lautoka yesterday.

The trial of Rokobici and wife Ruci Kalokalo continued before Justice Aruna Aluthge.

The couple faces manslaughter and unlawful burial charges of their seven-year-old daughter, Adi Vika Tinai.

The couple represented themselves in court while Saini Naibe appeared for the prosecution.

The duo is part of a faith group called Yavu Vatu ni Vanua, founded in 2017 by Ratu Meliki Satiki, who does not believe in medical treatment at hospitals.

Laisiasa Rokobici and Ruci Kalokalo at the High Court in Lautoka on January 22, 2024. Photo: Salote Qalubau

Cross examination 

Head of Forensic Pathology, Doctor James Kalougivaki, who conducted the post-mortem examination on the deceased (Alanieta), testified on the occurrence that took place on the examination day.

The court heard the child died on February 23, 2021, and was buried on the same day. Her examination was conducted on March 11, 2021.

The doctor told the court orders were given by the magistrate’s court for the body to be exhumed from the grave for a post-mortem examination.

He said a police officer witnessed the examination conducted. He also confirmed the body was free of any injuries.

“Internal examination done for the head and bones showed only the presence of decomposition,” Dr Kalougivaki said.

“It was difficult to identify the cause of death because the body was decomposed.”

He said when the body was brought out of the grave, it was wrapped in mats, tapa and huge amounts of clothes.

Dr Ashnil Goundar 

Dr Ashnil Goundar who was the senior divisional medical officer Tavua at the time was part of the examination that took place on March 11, 2021.

He told the court that he couldn’t remember the name of the deceased.

He confirmed from his findings that the seven-year-old girl hadn’t been brought to the hospital the day she died and there was no death certificate.

Rokobici’s testimony

Rokobici, in his testimony, challenged the two medical doctors to find out what could guarantee that those taken to hospital would be healed.

The two medical doctors said they could not guarantee this. They said it would depend on the patient’s condition and age group.

Rokobici relayed in court the events that led to his daughter’s demise.

“My daughter has been sick for three months. She has been losing a lot of weight and frequently has stomach aches. I intended not to take her to the hospital because of my faith in God. I believe that God will heal her. Everything was according to the plan of God. Even when she was dead, we felt at peace because we knew it was God’s will,” he said.

“The day she died, I was in the plantation when a child called and said that my daughter was in severe pain. I came, and we tried to massage her body and pray for her, but she couldn’t make it.

“I and my wife decided to bury her. We were not aware of the laws that required us to inform the police that she needed to be taken to the hospital to be certified dead.

“We didn’t want her to die. We love our child, and we took care of her until God took her away. We have planned that no matter what happens to her, if it’s God’s will to take her, we will bury her. Even though we have laws on this earth, the will and the plan of God prevail.

Kalokalo, the mother of the child, said from the birth of her child to her death, they, as parents, took great responsibility taking care of their child.

“Everything that happened to her was the will of God. We believe in the Bible as it says, The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away,” she added.

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