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\f36\fs24\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468\charrsid9782346 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10046240 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10046240 AT SUVA}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10046240 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4338468 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468\charrsid4338468 Criminal Case No. 32 of 1990}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4338468 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4338468 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 THE STATE}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468 
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 v.}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468 
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 ROPATE BAISAGALE}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4338468 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4338468 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 RULING
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4338468 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
\par The prosecution has closed its case indicating that it has called all the evidence that it seeks to rely upon in support and proof of the charges laid against the accused.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
It is patently obvious that the prosecution have not called all the witnesses whose statements and reports were tendered in the committal proceedings in the lower court, nor in my view is there any duty statutory or otherwise which wo
uld compel the prosecution to call all such witnesses in any subsequent trial.
\par 
\par Learned defence counsel now seeks to invoke the provisions of }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 Section 290}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468  of the }{
\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 Criminal Procedure Code}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468  which enables }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 inter alia}
{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468  the deposition of a witness to be read as evidence where the witness }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
"..... is proved at the trial by the oath of a creditable witness to be absent from Fiji}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468  .......}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 "}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 The particular witnesses concerned are a Dr. Emosi Don Taloga and Peni Waqa whose report and statement appear at pp. 41 and 17 respecti
vely of the Magistrate Court record of the depositions.
\par 
\par The doctor's report details his findings of a medical examination that he conducted on the accused at 9.35 a.m. on the 26.4.90 }{\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 and}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468  the statement of Peni Waqa details the occurrences and matters which
 he personally saw, heard and did on the night of the 25.4.90 through to the early morning hours of the 26.4.90 at 249 Waimanu Road.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
In short he was an eye-witness to the immediate events, the subject matter of the charges presently laid against the accused.
\par 
\par Learned State Counsel has no objection to the doctor's report being read in evidence and it is accordingly ordered to be read and marked as }{\i\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 Exhibit D-1}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 .}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
As for the statement of Peni Waqa State Counsel objects to it being read on 2 grounds}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468 :}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid4338468 {\i\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 Firstly}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 , th
at the evidence proving his absence from Fiji}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468  is insufficient; and}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4338468 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid4338468 {\i\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 Secondly}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 ,}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468  that the evidence would not be subjected to cross-examination and the court and assessors would be handicapped at not being able properly to assess the witnesse's credibility.
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4338468 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
\par W
ith respect to learned State Counsel the statement of Peni Waqa forms a deposition in this case only because the prosecution saw fit to tender it in the lower court as relevant and more importantly as evidence upon which the committing court was being cal
led upon to act.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 To now suggest that the witness may not be credible is to blow both "hot and cold".}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 Needless to say the accuracy or authenticity of the statement }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468 
has not been challenged at all.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
\par At for the evidence of the witness' absence from Fiji, this is sworn to on oath by none-other than the investigating officer in the case, a senior police officer with 20 years experience in the force.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 To suggest as learned State Counsel has done that the sworn testimony of such a witness is a mere assertion is to d
o little credit to the officer concerned who it can be assumed would not make such an unfounded assertion on oath.
\par 
\par Needless to say the evidence of the witness's absence was first elicited from the officer in his examination-in-chief by State Counsel.
\par 
\par I am satisfied that the inspector is a }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 "creditable witness"}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
 and I accept his evidence on oath and find that the witness Peni Waqa is indeed absent from Fiji as is Dr. Taloga.
\par 
\par As for the absence of the opportunity to cross-examine the witness I can do no better than to quote from the recent judgment of the Privy Council in }{\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 Scott v. The Queen}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468  }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 (1989) 1 A.C. 1242}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
 where it was said of an almost identically-worded Section in a Jamaican Act}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468 :}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\tx-1440\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid4338468 {\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 " ..... the discretion of a judge to ensure a fair trial includes a power 
to exclude the admission of a deposition.}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468  }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 It is however a power that should be exercised with restraint.}{
\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468  }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
The mere fact that the deponent will not be available for cross-examination is obviously an insufficient ground for excluding a deposition for that is 
a feature common to the admission of all depositions which must have been contemplated and accepted by the legislature when it gave statutory sanction to their admission in evidence."}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 

\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4338468 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
\par and at p. 1259}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468 :}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468  
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\tx-1440\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid4338468 {\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 "It will of course be necessary in every case to warn
 the jury that they have not had the benefit of hearing the evidence of the deponent tested in cross-examination and to take that into consideration when considering how far they can safely rely on the evidence in the deposition."}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4338468 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
\par and later on the same page}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468 :}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\tx-1440\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid4338468 {\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
"It is only when the judge decides that such directions cannot ensure a fair trial that the discretion should be exerci}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468 sed to exclude the deposition.}{
\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 "}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4338468 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
\par In this case having carefully considered the nature and content of the witness Peni Waqa's deposition I have come to the firm conclusion that his deposition should be read in this trial as evidence and marked }{
\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 Exhibit D-2}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 .
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4338468 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 (D.V. Fatiaki)
\par }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 JUDGE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4338468 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
\par At Suva,
\par 14th March, 1991.
\par }\pard \qr \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4338468 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10046240 HA}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468 C}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10046240 00}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468 32}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10046240 .}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4338468 90}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid10046240 S}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid2971687\charrsid4338468 
\par }}