Prosecution witness denies flirting claims
Kapawale is accused of killing three Indonesians and two Fijian men aboard the Fishing Vessel Tiro II between May 17 and 19, 2021.
Tuesday 04 February 2025 | 14:02
Prosecution witness and Fiji Sun investigative journalist Iva mere Nataro at the Suva Magistrate's Court on February 3, 2025.
Prosecution witness Ivamere Nataro denied allegations of sexual harassment during cross-examination; following claims that she attempted to gather information from Tevita Kapawale through flirting.
This occurred after murder accused, Kapawale's defence lawyers argued yesterday that Nataro had tried to obtain sensitive information inappropriately during their interactions.
Kapawale, who faces five counts of murder and one count each of attempted murder and criminal intimidation appeared before Justice Daine Tuiqereqere at the High Court in Suva.
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Kapawale is accused of killing three Indonesians and two Fijian men aboard the Fishing Vessel Tiro II between May 17 and 19, 2021.
Kapawale is also alleged to have attempted to murder bosun Mitieli Cama and to have criminally intimidated the first state witness, deckhand Kaminieli Tucama.
Cross-examination
During the cross-examination, defence lawyers Tobia Ravuniwa and Etonia Veibataki aimed to show that Nataro had attempted to extract information from Kapawale through flirtation.
Mr Ravuniwa argued in court that Nataro had tried to coax Kapawale into revealing details about the events on May 18, 2021, when the accused allegedly murdered five people aboard FV Tiro II in Fiji waters, using flirtatious behaviour as her method.
Mr Ravuniwa also questioned whether Nataro's actions as an investigative journalist for the Fiji Sun were ethical in attempting to elicit information about Kapawale's actions.
In response to Mr Ravuniwa questions, Ms Nataro denied all allegations stating that she conducted her work in a professional way.
The cross-examination continues today.
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