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\fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid15751154 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par AT SUVA
\par MISCELLANEOUS JURISDICTION
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15751154 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid15751154 Criminal Misc. Case No: HAM 011 of 2005S
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15751154 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid15751154 Between:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15751154\charrsid15751154 
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\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid15751154 Applicant
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15751154 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid15751154 THE STATE
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid15751154 Respondent
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\par Hearing:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15751154  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid9852780 16th March 2005
\par Ruling:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15751154  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid9852780 18th March 2005
\par 
\par Counsel:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15751154  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid9852780 Mr. R. Singh for Applicant
\par Mr. A. Ravindra-Singh for State
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15751154 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid15751154 RULING
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\par The Applicant applies for bail pending trial.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15751154  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid9852780 
He has been in remand since he was charged with the murder of Laiakini Colati, at Tacirua Village on the 3rd of December 2004.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15751154  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid9852780 
He applies on the grounds that he has
 a fixed address, that his charge should be one of manslaughter rather than of murder, that he has only two minor previous convictions (for drunk and disorderly conduct) and that there is no risk of re-offending or of interfering with witnesses whilst on 
bail.
\par 
\par State counsel objects to bail on the grounds that the offence is a serious one, the witnesses are from the same village as the Applicant, and that because the Applicant appears to have difficulty controlling his behaviour whilst drunk, he is a bail risk.

\par 
\par The question of the appropriateness of the charge is not a matter for me to consider at this stage.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15751154  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid9852780 
Counsel for the Applicant has made representations to the Director of Public Prosecutions for the reduction of the charge, and it is a matter for the Director to decide on the charge to be laid in the Information.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15751154  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid9852780 
However, relevant to this application is the fact that the Applicant has a fixed address, that he does not have a daunting list of previous conviction, that he has, as counsel informed me, reconciled with the victim\rquote 
s family in a traditional ceremony, and that he is a farmer who farms on communal land in Tacirua.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15751154  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid9852780 
Counsel says that the Applicant does not dispute the assault by him on the victim, and that therefore the evidence of any eye-witnesses is of marginal importance.
\par 
\par I cannot accept this last argument because it is impossible to say at this stage, what matters in dispute, eye-witnesses will be giving evidence about and how crucial their evidence will be.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15751154  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid9852780 Although, the State has not shown 
me that there is any likelihood that the Applicant will in fact interfere with witnesses, there is a chance of such interference because witnesses and Applicant all reside in the same village.
\par 
\par This trial may not proceed this year, now that the Suva criminal judges are assigned to clearing the Labasa criminal trials.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15751154  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid9852780 
Certainly there is currently no judge available until September, and this case has not been set a hearing date because we await the DPP\rquote s decision on reduction of the charge. However all effort
s will be made to list the case for hearing in September or October this year.
\par 
\par If the trial proceeds in September 2005, the Applicant will have been in custody for less than 12 months.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15751154  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid9852780 This is}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15751154  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid9852780 not excessive in a case where the accused is charged with murd
er. However, if a greater delay becomes likely, bail can be reconsidered.
\par 
\par In all the circumstances, bail is refused.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15751154 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid15751154 Nazhat Shameem
\par }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid15751154 JUDGE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9852780 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid601925\charrsid9852780 
\par At Suva
\par 18th March 2005
\par }}