The third state witness in the murder trial of Sudesh Mani Naidu told the Suva High Court today that her 74-year-old mother-in-law was yelling for help at around 5.30pm on 13th January, 2013.
Naidu is charged with a count each of murder and robbery.
Bimlesh Lata told the court that her house is just 10 steps away from her mother-in-law’s house at Johnson Road in Lautoka and when she reached the scene, she saw the elderly woman lying on the floor with a bleeding face.
Lata told High Court Judge Justice Salesi Temo that her mother-in-law told her that she was assaulted by the same man who had come to sell photographs two months ago.
She also identified Sudesh Mani Naidu in court today and said he was the man who came in their area to sell photographs.
Meanwhile, the Head of Forensic Pathology at the Fiji Police Academy, Dr. James Kalougivaki told the court today that the 74-year-old woman died because of severe bleeding to her brain.
He also told the court that the woman had internal chest bleeding and black eyes.
The court was also told that the woman’s neck joint was dislocated.
Dr. Kalougivaki told the court that most of the injuries would have required blunt force.
It is alleged that Naidu robbed Vidiya Wati of $2,200 worth of assorted jewellery and then murdered her at Johnson Road in Lautoka on 13th January, 2013.
The trial continues today.
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