‘Murder Accused Sent Pictures Of Dead Wife’

The Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (ADPP) has informed the court that an accused Congo national had sent a photo of his dead wife lying on the floor, with eyes covered with coins, to his father-in-law.

This was highlighted by ADPP Elizabeth Rice during her opening statement in the trial of Kiala Marcellino Penakoy Henri Lusaka yesterday.

The 39-year-old murder accused appeared before Justice Vinsent Perera for the first day of his trial.

Lusaka is charged with one count of murder of his 44-year-old wife Jennifer Anne Downes, an Australian national.

The alleged incident occurred on July 23, 2019, in their rented home at Service Street in Suva.

Ms Rice told the court that Lusaka met his wife in Africa while she was working for the United Nations.

She told the court that the couple got married in 2011 and had three children, all under the age of six years old.

Ms Rice told the court that in 2017, Lusaka’s wife got a job with the World Food Programme and she was based in Fiji.

She further added that Lusaka alleged that his late wife was having an affair and it was clear that all was not well in the marriage.

She added that on July 23, 2019, Lusaka sent a photo of the deceased wife lying on the bedroom floor with bruises on her body and with coins placed on her eyes, to his father-in-law in Australia via Facebook.

Ms Rice told the court that Lusaka’s father-in-law alerted the authorities and when Police found her body at the residence in Suva, it was exactly as the same in the photograph.

Prosecution’s witness, Police Woman Sergeant Laisa Yalimaiwai testified that during the video caution interview, Lusaka stood up, pointed at the Police officers and threatened to kill them all.

She told court that she was frightened by the actions of the accused.

The trial continues today.

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