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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par AT SUVA
\par CRIMINAL JURISDICTION
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6368579 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6368579 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 CRIMINAL CASE NO: HAC 014 OF 2001S
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6368579 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 STATE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6368579 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6368579 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579 V}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6368579 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6368579 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 ALBERTINO SHANKAR; }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid354964 and
\par }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 FRANCIS NARAYAN
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6368579 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
\par Counsel:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579\charrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 Mr Kuruisaqila with Ms Chandra for State
\par 1st Accused in Person
\par Ms P. Narayan for 2nd Accused
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6368579 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579 RU}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 L}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579 
IN}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 G}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6368579 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
\par The two accused persons are jointly charged with the murder of Tang Wen Jun in March 2001 in Suva.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
The Information was filed in the High Court on the 15th of October 2001.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 An amended Information was filed on the 1st of November 2001.

\par 
\par When the matter was first listed in the High Court before Surman J, the 1st Accused Albertino Shankar was unrepresented.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
Ms Narayan appeared (as legal aid counsel) for the 2nd Accused.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
The 1st Accused said he had applied for legal aid, had been refused, and had appealed that refusal.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
The matter was then adjourned on several occasions to allow the question of legal aid to be decided.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
The appeal against the refusal of the Legal Aid Commission was unsuccessful.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
On the 11th of April 2002, the 1st Accused said that he was in no position to get a lawyer because he did not have the financial means to obtain the services of counsel.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 Ms Narayan disputed this, saying that in the opinion of the Legal Aid Commission, the 1st Accused had the financial means to instruct counsel.
\par 
\par Ms Hamilton-White, who was at the time, counsel for the State, said that the 1st Accused needed to be legally represented because of the likelihood of a challenge to the 1st Accused\rquote s caution statement to the police.
\par 
\par The matter was adjourned to give the 1st Accused time to instruct counsel of his own choice.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
He said that he would try to contact his relatives for that purpose.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
On the 25th of April 2002, the 1st Accused said that he was unable to instruct counsel.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
By that time, I had already caused, through the Chief Registrar, a letter to be written to Legal Aid Commission, recommending to the Commission that legal aid be granted to the 1st Accused.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 Despite this recommendation legal aid was refused again.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
However on 4th June 2002, Mr G.P. Lala appeared for the 1st Accused saying that he had agreed to take the 1st Accused\rquote s brief pro bono.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 A hearing date was then set for the 19th of August 2002.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
That date was later vacated because Ms Narayan was involved in the treason trial (}{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 State -v- Timoci Silatolu & Another}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
 Cr. Action HBM 2/02).
\par 
\par The trial finally proceeded on the 17th of September.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 It commenced with a voir dire by agreement of all counsel.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 Detective Sgt. Mohammed Shafique began to give evidence.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 He had read half of the contents of the 1st Accused\rquote s caution interview when the court adjourned for lunch.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 When we re-commenced Mr G.P. Lala asked for leave to withdraw saying that he had had a dispute with his client and his client no longer wished to retain him as counsel.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 The 1st Accused confirmed this and asked for time to make a further application for legal aid.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 All counsel agreed that he should be given time for this purpose.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 I granted Mr Lala leave to withdraw.
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 This morning a letter from the Director for the Legal Aid Commission was received by the Chief Registrar confirming t
hat an application had been made and requesting a week from today to consider the application.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
All counsel agree that the 1st Accused should be granted a further adjournment.
\par 
\par This is a trial for murder.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 The depositions contain 63 witness statements.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 The 1st and 2nd Accused have challenged the admissibility of their confessions.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 Both confessions are inculpatory.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
The 2nd Accused is alleged to have said that the act of strangling the deceased was done by the 1st Accused.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
It seems very likely that apart from the issues of voluntariness and oppression in relation to the confessions, the questions of joint enterprise and common intention will be relevant during this trial.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 These are not issues that are easily understood by lay persons.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
I consider that proceeding with this trial without representation would expose the 1st Accused to a significant risk of prejudice.
\par 
\par In }{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 Dietrich -v- R}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579  (1992) 177 CLR 292 the High Court of Australia said (per Mason LJ and McHugh J) at p.311:
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6368579 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 \'93The decision whether to grant an adjournm
ent or a stay is to be made in the exercise of the trial judge\rquote s discretion, by asking whether the trial is likely to be unfair if the accused is forced on unrepresented.}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{
\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 For our part, the desirability of an accused charged with a serious offence being rep
resented is so great that we consider that the trial should proceed without representation for the accused in exceptional cases only.}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
In all other cases of serious crime, the remedy of an adjournment should be granted in order that representation can be obtained.\'94
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6368579 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
\par In }{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 Mitchell -v- The Queen}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 \~
(1999) 1 WLR 1679, the Privy Council said that when counsel withdrew in the middle of a murder trial, the trial judge should have adjourned to allow the accused to seek different counsel, and that the failure to do so was a breach of the accused\rquote 
s constitutional right to be represented.
\par 
\par In the circumstances I consider that this trial cannot proceed until the 1st Accused is represented by counsel.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
He has re-applied for legal aid.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 That process will take a week.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 Clearly the delay will be longer than that, because a newly instructed counsel will need further time to read the papers and prepare for the defence.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 There is no likelihood therefore that the trial can commence before November 2002.
\par 
\par I have therefore decided that a trial de novo commence before a new set of assessors when all parties are ready.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
This case will be called for mention only on Monday 30th September at 9.30am to check on the question of representation.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6368579  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
The assessors are discharged from service for this trial.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6368579 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 Nazhat Shameem
\par }{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 JUDGE}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6368579 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10945675\charrsid6368579 
\par At Suva
\par 23rd September 2002
\par }}