Two assessors have found the man who allegedly killed his younger brother on April 5th last year, not guilty of manslaughter while one assessor has returned with a guilty opinion.
Aisake Vana Junior allegedly killed his brother Suliasi Veisere at their Kalabu home after an argument over a bowl of dhal.
High Court Judge Justice Vinsent Perera will deliver his judgement at 11.30am tomorrow.
While making the prosecution’s closing submission, State Counsel Shirley Tivao told the assessors that the evidence of the accused was inconsistent in the caution interview and in the witness box.
She said that the accused was caution interviewed one day after the incident which means he had more than enough time to change his story to benefit him.
Tivao said the accused said in his caution interview that “I picked up the knife and stabbed Suli”.
The State Counsel also said that the accused stated in his caution interview “from the kitchen I ran to him with the knife in my hand”.
She told the assessors that the deceased Suliasi Veisere was someone’s brother, son and friend.
And in his closing submission defense lawyer Nemani Tuifagalele said this case is about an unfortunate family feud.
He said that it is relevant to consider that the accused actually defended himself from the wrath of the deceased.
Tuifagalele said the accused threw a punch without knowing that there was a knife in his hand.
The defense lawyer told the assessors that it was a spur of the moment incident.
Tuifagalele told the assessors that the deceased did not respect the accused because he was always acting like a girl in the house and had a lot of girlfriends.
38-year-old Aisake Vana Junior is charged with one count of manslaughter.
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