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{\author Information Technology Unit}{\operator blake_r}{\creatim\yr2005\mo12\dy3\hr16\min55}{\revtim\yr2005\mo12\dy3\hr16\min55}{\printim\yr2004\mo3\dy24\hr11\min28}{\version2}{\edmins0}{\nofpages2}{\nofwords331}{\nofchars1888}
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\fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid15426856 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par AT SUVA
\par CRIMINAL JURISDICTION
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15426856 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15426856 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 CRIMINAL CASE NO: HAC013 OF 2003
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15426856 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15426856 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid15426856 STATE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15426856 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15426856 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 v.
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15426856 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15426856 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid15426856 SURESH SANI; and
\par DEO RAJ
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid556810 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 
\par Mr. W. Kuruisaqila for State
\par Ms J. Nair for 1st Accused
\par Mr. R. Chand for 2nd Accused
\par 
\par Hearing:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid556810  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 19th January 2004 \endash  24th March 2004
\par Judgment:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid556810  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 24th March 2004
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15426856 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15426856\charrsid15426856 JUDGMEN}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid15426856 T

\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid556810 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 
\par The three assessors have given their unanimous opinions that the two accused are not guilty of murder.
\par 
\par I cannot concur with their opinions.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15426856  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 Their opinions can only be accepted if one takes the view that the confessi
ons were false, fabricated and forced.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15426856  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 For the same reasons I gave in my ruling at the trial within a trial, I cannot agree.

\par 
\par I do not accept that the accused were assaulted and oppressed.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15426856  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 Nor do I accept that the police made up the confessions to falsely 
frame the accused.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15426856  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 
I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the accused each told the police false, partly exculpatory statements at first to exonerate themselves.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15426856  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 Then, faced with the documentary evidence and the knowledge of the nature of the investigations they each decided to confess.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15426856  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 I accept the evidence of Dr. Rickets, Mr. Nand Singh and the police witnesses in this regard.
\par 
\par The confessions constitute a complete admission to the murder of Ashok Kumar which is entirely consistent with the other evidence in this case, in particular the post-mortem report, and the way the body was found.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15426856  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 
The discrepancies in time referred to by the defence are quite understandable because of the lapse of time between the death and the interviews.
\par 
\par I reject the evidence of the two accused.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15426856  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 
Not only did their evidence lack credibility as to their conduct, but the demeanour and manner of the two accused left me with no doubt that I could not put any reliance on their evidence.
\par 
\par I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the 1st accused killed Ashok Kumar with malice aforethoug}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15426856 ht with the intention of benefi}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 ting from his insurance policy.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15426856  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 
I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the 2nd accused actively assisted the 1st accused to kill Ashok Kumar with full knowledge of the plan and the murder.
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s18\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid556810 \f2\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 
For these reasons, I find both accused guilty of murder as charged and convict them accordingly.
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid556810 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15426856 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid15426856 Nazhat Shameem
\par }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid15426856 JUDGE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid556810 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10630301\charrsid556810 
\par At Suva
\par 24th March 2004
\par }}