The 20-year-old unemployed man who allegedly stabbed 24-year-old Police Constable Siuta Niumataiwalu to death on Monday night appeared in the Lautoka Magistrates Court earlier today and asked the Magistrate to release him on bail for a day.
Vilimoni Lalakomouma told Magistrate Nayani Kasturiratne that he wants to reconcile with Niumataiwalu's family.
Magistrate Kasturiratne has remanded Lalakomouma in custody and transferred the case to Lautoka High Court.
The case has been adjourned to the 7th of next month.
Lalakomouma has been charged with one count of murder and faces three more counts of serious offences for two separate cases that allegedly occurred the same night.
Police say several hours after Lalakomouma was released on bail from the Nadi Magistrates Court on Monday for a separate case of theft, the 20-year-old allegedly seriously assaulted and robbed a farmer along Yaweni Street.
Lalakomouma allegedly stole the victim's bag containing clothes, shoes, cash and a kitchen knife which has now been identified as the alleged murder weapon used to stab the late Niumataiwalu.
According to Police, he also allegedly robbed a man of his mobile phone along Vitogo Parade at 10.30pm on Monday.
The late Niumataiwalu and a team of investigators responded to a report of the accused being seen on top of the roof of a building.
When they saw Lalakomouma, the late Niumataiwalu chased him down while the rest of the team planned to cut him off at the Churchill Park ground.
The late Niumataiwalu managed to arrest Lalakomouma and in the process the Lalakomouma allegedly took out a kitchen knife and stabbed the late officer several times resulting in his death.
He fled the scene but was confronted by the other officers who arrested him and took him into custody.
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