Colanaudolu did not rape and murder the 14-year-old girl - Lawyer

Josua Colanaudolu did not rape and murder the 14-year-old girl in Deuba last year.

Colanaudolu’s lawyer Michael Fesaitu made this statement in the Suva High Court this morning while making his closing submission in the trial.

He says nobody saw Colanaudolu abducting and raping the girl and there is no direct evidence to support this.

Fesaitu told the three assessors that the prosecution is saying that Colanaudolu committed the crimes based on the confession, however the confession should be disregarded as he was consistently threatened and assaulted in Police custody.

The defence lawyer then told the assessors that if they do not believe that Colanaudolu was assaulted then they should consider why he raised a complaint about this in the first court appearance last year.

He told the court that the truth is that Colanaudolu was drunk and sleeping at home during the time of the incident.

Fesaitu also told the court that three other women are blaming him for something he did not do.

Fesaitu said if the 14-year-old girl would not have died, Colanaudolu would not have been in court as the three women slowly started making allegations of rape after the death of the girl.

Assistant DPP Lee Burney then made his closing submission and said that last week, three women revealed horrendous experiences and they were drawing a line that this must stop.

Burney says the three spoke the truth.

He said that the 14-year-old girl’s life was brutally taken away by Colanaudolu so he could satisfy himself and there was strong force inflicted on her brain.

Burney told the court that Colanaudolu has lied throughout the trial where he said that the doctors and Police have made up things.

He says Colanaudolu also lied when he said that he did not leave his house on the night of the incident.

Burney told the assessors that Colanaudolu was seen by the witnesses and there is no doubt that he was out and about.

The state prosecutor then said that Colanaudolu has confessed to committing the crimes and also raised the question on who would confess to raping and murdering a child if it’s not true.

High Court Judge Justice Salesi Temo will sum up the case at 2.15pm tomorrow.

Colanaudolu is facing one count of murder, 6 counts of rape, 4 counts of abduction and one count of indecently annoying a female.

The charges also include the case where Colanaudolu allegedly abducted, raped and murdered a 14‑year‑old girl in Deuba in March last year.