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\f174\fs22\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par AT SUVA
\par CRIMINAL JURISDICTION
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14689057 {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 HIGH COURT CRIMINAL CASE NO: HAC 014 OF 2010
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\par TAIMUR ALI
\par TAHIR ALI
\par CHANDLESH GANESH
\par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 ACCUSED PERSONS
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\par }{\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 Counsel:}{\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 Ms. Cokanasiga J. - For State}{
\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057  
\par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 Mr. Raza M. - For All Accused Persons
\par }{\b\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 
\par }{\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 Date of Hearing:}{\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid16213165  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 
9/6/10; 10/6/10; 11/6/10; 15/6/10; 16/6/10; 
\par 21/6/10; 22/6/10; 23/6/10; 24/6/10; 28/6/2010.
\par }{\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 
\par Date of Ruling:}{\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 30th June, 2010.}{\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057 
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\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14689057 {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 The four accused persons are charged for murder of James}{
\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 Shankaran Nair.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057  }{
\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 At the end of the case for the prosecution, Defence made an application on the basis that there was no case to answer in terms of Section 293(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

\par 
\par Section 293(1) of the Criminal Procedure code provides:
\par }{\b\i\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid14689057 {\b\i\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057  }{\b\i\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 
When the evidence of the witnesses for the prosecution has been concluded, and the statement
 or evidence (if any) of the accused person before the committing court has been given in evidence, the court, if it considers that there is no evidence that the accused or any one of several accused committed the offence, shall, after hearing, if necessa
ry, any arguments which the legal practitioner for the prosecution or the defence may desire to submit, \'85 record a finding\'85.. of not guilty.
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14689057 {\b\i\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 
\par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 The test to be applied is whether there is some evidence on all elements of the offence whether direct or circumstantial.
\par 
\par Defence submitted that there was no iota of evidence placed before court by the prosecution and that the evidence of the pathologist could not be relied upon.
\par 
\par Counsel for the State submitted that prosecution relies on circumstantial evidence.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 It w
as the position of the State that the}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 
only inference that could be drawn on the evidence placed before court is that the four accused persons caused the death of the deceased.
\par 
\par In this case prosecution led evidence to the effect that the 4 accused persons took the deceased in the van.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 
The evidence placed was that they were taking the deceased to the police station.
\par 
\par The fatal injury caused to the back of head of deceased could have been occurred by a blunt object like a piece of wood or any hard object like even a rod or a pipe or a similar object according to the evidence of the pathologist.
\par 
\par I am of opinion that the acceptance of the evidence in the light of the apparent inconsistencies in the evidence of the pathologist on the estimated time of death is a matter for the assessors to decide.
\par 
\par Cautioned Interview of the accused persons were admitted in evidence with agreement of both parties and it is evident that the accused persons carried a knife and a piece of wood and a torch in the van.
\par 
\par The prosecution case rests solely on circumstantial evidence. I find the inferences to be drawn from the evidence placed is for the assessors and not for the judge at this stage of the case.
\par 
\par The defence urged the court to consider the principles considered in }{\b\i\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 State v Kapoor (1996) FJHC 111}{
\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057  case.
\par 
\par In that case the court found that the quality of the prosecution\rquote s identification evidence was so riddled with falsity, inconsistencies, discrepancies and exaggerations and no reasonable tribunal could convict the accused.
\par 
\par That was the test to be applied as enunciated in case }{\b\i\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 Galbraith (1981) 1 ALL E.R. 1060.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 
\par 
\par In this case prosecution relies on circumstantial evidence as mentioned above and it is my view that it is a matter for the Assessors to decide on the credibility of the witnesses and to draw the proper inferences from the facts placed before court.

\par 
\par Therefore I find that the 4 accused persons have a case to answer.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14689057 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14689057\charrsid14689057 Priyantha Fernando
\par Puisne Judge
\par 30/06/2010}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1972231\charrsid14689057 
\par }}