Highlands Tragedy: 'Witchdoctor' Among Suspects
A man who Police say is a witchdoctor and his wife are the prime suspects in the deaths of five members of a family in Legalega, Nadi.
Friday 30 August 2019 | 12:22
Dead...Nileshni Kumar and her two daughters Sana and Samara.
A man who Police say is a witchdoctor and his wife are the prime suspects in the deaths of five members of a family in Legalega, Nadi.
The couple have a Permanent Residency status in New Zealand and they are known to be living in Christchurch for the past few years.
The man was released from Police custody on Wednesday evening as the 48-hour period for which he can be kept had expired.
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His wife will be released by Police this morning as the 48-hour period for her to be kept in custody expires.
An application was made by the Police, through the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, in the High Court at Lautoka yesterday, to keep the couple in custody until September 3, to carry out further investigations.
It is understood that the DPP’s office had submitted the seriousness of the offence and that it had taken place in the interior of Nausori Highlands and that was why it was taking a long time for Police to investigate.
Police officers question neighbours outside the house of the late Kumar family in Legalega, Nadi, on August 29, 2019. Photos: Waisea Nasokia
He said further tests in Suva were likely to take between two and three weeks as they had to ascertain what chemical was used that caused the deaths of three adults and two children.
“We will get the couple in for questioning at any time as our investigations progress and we are still trying to ascertain the motive for the killings,” he said.
Edited by Naisa Koroi
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