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State v Naureure - Summing Up [2020] FJHC 1034; HAC331.2018 (11 November 2020)
IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
AT SUVA
CRIMINAL JURISDICTION
Crim. Case No: HAC 331 of 2018
STATE
vs.
- ASESELA NAUREURE
- MAIKA TOVAGONE
Counsel: Ms. U. Tamanikaiyaroi with Mr. U. Lal for the State
Ms. L. Ratidara for 1st Accused
Ms. S. Hazelman with Mr. K. Skiba for 2nd Accused.
Date of Hearing: 26th, 27th, 28th 29th, 30th October, 2020, 3rd and 4th November 2020
Date of Closing Submission: 05th November 2020
Date of Summing Up: 11th November 2020
SUMMING UP
- The hearing of this case has now reached its conclusion. I have to sum up the case for you. As I explained to you before the commencement
of the hearing, we have different functions. It is my task to ensure that the trial is conducted according to law. As part of that,
I will direct you on the law that applies to this action. You must accept the law from me and apply all directions I give you on
matters of law.
- Your function is to determine the facts of the case based on the evidence that has been placed before you in this courtroom. That
involves deciding what evidence you accept or refuse. You will then apply the law, as I explain it to you, to the facts as you find
them to be, and in that way, arrive at your opinion.
- I may comment on the facts if I think it will assist you when considering the facts. However, you are not obliged to accept any comment
I make about the facts. Hence, it is entirely upon you to accept or disregard any comment I make about the facts unless it coincides
with your own independent opinion.
- You must reach your opinion on evidence and nothing but on the evidence itself. Evidence is what the witnesses said from the witness
box and the exhibits tendered as evidence. This summing up, statements, arguments, questions, and comments made by the parties are
not evidence. The purpose of the opening address by the learned counsel for the Prosecution is to outline the nature of evidence
intended to be put before you. Therefore, the opening address of the Prosecution is not evidence. The closing addresses of the counsel
of the Prosecution and the Defence are not evidence either. They are their arguments, which you may properly consider when you evaluate
the evidence, but the extent to which you do so is entirely a matter for you.
- If you heard, read, or otherwise learned anything about this case outside of this courtroom, you must exclude that information or
opinions from your consideration. You must have regard only to the testimony put before you in this courtroom. Ensure that no external
influence plays a part in your deliberation. You are allowed to talk, discuss, and deliberate facts of this case only among yourselves.
However, each one of you must reach your own opinion. You are required to give merely your opinion but not the reasons for your opinion.
Your opinion need not be unanimous. I must advise you that your opinion does not bind me, but I assure you that I will give your
opinions the greatest possible weight when I make my judgment.
Burden and Standard of Proof
- I now draw your attention to the issue of burden and standard of proof. The accused are presumed to be innocent until they are proven
guilty. The presumption of innocence is in force until you form your own opinion that the accused guilty of the offence.
- The burden of proof of the charge against the accused is on the Prosecution. It is because the accused are presumed to be innocent
until they are proven guilty. In other words, there is no burden on the accused to prove their innocence, as their innocence are
presumed by law.
- The standard of proof in a criminal trial is "proof beyond a reasonable doubt." It means that you must be satisfied in your mind that
you are sure of the accused's guilt. If there is a riddle in your mind about the accused's guilt, that means the Prosecution has
failed to satisfy you the guilt of the accused beyond a reasonable doubt. If you find any reasonable doubt about the commission of
the offence as charged or any other offence by the accused, such doubt should always favor the accused.
Information and elements of the offences
- The two accused are being charged with one count of Aggravated Robbery, contrary to Section 311 (1) (a) of the Crimes Act. The particulars
of the offence are in the information. Hence, I do not wish to reproduce them in the summing up.
- The main elements of the offence of the Aggravated Robbery are that:
(i) The accused person,
(ii) In the company of each other and two other persons,
(iii) Commithe robbery bery on Roy Ferreles, stealing $100 cash, one brown
leather wallet and one “Oakley” bag.
Th1">The first element involves the identity of the offenders. The Prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the two
accused with two others or one of the accused with three others, have committed this offence and no one else.
Then the Prosecution has to prove that the accused committed this offence in the company of each other’s. Hence, the Prosecution's
case is that the two accused committed this offence together with two others. Where two or more persons commit a criminal offence,
each of them may play a different part, but if they are acting together as part of a joint plan or agreement to commit the offence,
they are each guilty.
The word plan and agreement do not mean that there has to be any formality about it. An agreement to commit an offence may arise on
the spur of the moment. Nothing needs to be said at all. It can be made with a nod and a wink or a knowing look, or it can be inferred
from the parties' behaviour. The essence of joint responsibility for a criminal offence is that each accused shared a common intention
to commit the offence and played his part in it, however, great or small, to achieve that aim.
Robbery is an aggravated form of theft. Theft becomes a robbery if the accused with two others, immediately before committing theft,
or at the time of committing theft, or immediately after committing theft, use force or threaten to use force on another person with
the intent to commit theft or to escape from the scene.
A person commits theft if that person:
- (i) Dishonestly
- (ii) Appropriates the property belonging to another,
- (iii) With the intention of permanently depriving the other of that property.
The elements of 'dishonestly' and "the intention of permanently depriving the other of the property" is the state of mind of the accused
at the time of committing the offence. Inferences of the state of mind of the accused could be drawn from the conduct of the accused.
'Appropriation of property' means taking possession or control of the property without the person's consent to whom it belongs. At
law, the property belongs to a person if that person has possession or control of the property.
Accordingly, the Prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that:
- (i) The two accused,
- (ii) In the company of each other’s and two other persons, <
- (iii) Dishonestly appropriated $100 cash, one brown leather wallet and one “Oakley” bag belong to Roy Ferreres,
- (iv) With the intention of permanently deprive it,
- (v) And used force on Roy Ferreres and Priya Kumar immediatelyately before or after stealing the said items.
The prosecution case against the two accused are based on two different evidential grounds. The case against the first accused is
based upon the circumstantial principle of the “recent possession of stolen items, where the case against the second accused
is founded on the evidence of video footage and other circumstantial evidence. Hence, you have to consider these two approaches separately.
If you find the prosecution has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the first accused was found in possession of the stolen property
a few minutes after the incident at a location closer to the place of the incident, you could find him guilty of this offence, but
that does not automatically proves the guilt of the second accused. You have to satisfy separately beyond a reasonable doubt that
the man dressed in the blue shirt in the video footage is the second accused. Likewise, if you find the prosecution failed to prove
the case against the first accused, that does not automatically make the second accused not guilty.
Evidence of the Prosecution
- Let me now remind you briefly of the summary of the Prosecution and Defence evidence presented during the hearing. This is a lengthy
hearing where the Prosecution presented the evidence of thirteen witnesses, and the two accused gave evidence for the Defence. Therefore,
I will take some time to summarize the evidence adduced during the hearing.
- The first witness of the Prosecution is Ms. Rubina Akbar, who is the owner of the Rubina Medical Centre. Her husband and Doctor Roy
are the doctors working at the Medical Centre. She lives upstairs while the Medical Centre and the Pharmacy at the downstairs of
the compound. The entire compound is secured with CCTV cameras. It has nine cameras altogether. The main decoder of the CCTV system
is at her house. Each camera has given a number. Camera number six is located at the Medical Centre's reception, focusing on the
Clinic's reception area. Camera number seven focuses on the outside area of the Clinic. Camera number three, located at the upstairs’
balcony, covers the front gate and surrounding area.
- Ms. Rubina states that all these cameras were working on the 20th of August 2018. The CCTV system has already been installed by the
previous owner when she purchased the Clinic. She has not made any changes to the settings of the CCTV system. The previous owner
had set the time of the CCTV system one hour ahead of the actual time. The date of the CCTV system has been set correctly.
- On the 20th of August 2018, at around 1.30 p.m., she was at home. She heard the Receptionist was shouting. Ms. Rubina came out and
saw the thieves were going out of the compound and crossed the road. She had then seen a police vehicle was passing the area. She
shouted at them, informing them about the robbery. The police vehicle then went after the thieves and caught them. The thieves had
just run to the top of the hill, then the police vehicle followed them.
style='text-indenindent:0pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;' value='24' value="24">Camera 3, 6, and 7 have recorded everything
that happened during the robbery. The Police retrieved theseage of cameras 3, 6, and 7.nd 7. Ms. Rubina explained the locations and
the people who were recorded in the three video footage. She further explained the time and the date of those footage. - The second witness of the Prosecution is James Lali. He is a police officer who is attached to rime Statistic Unit. He hade had retrieved
the three video footage from cameras 3, 6, and 7 of the CCTV system of Rubina Medical Centre on the 21st of August 2018. He had first
viewed the relevant video footage and then copied them to a USB stick, which he tendered in evidence as protection exhibit 5. The
files' names of the copied video footage were generated by the system itself, denoting the recording's date and time. The three video
footage were marked as Prosecution exhibits 1, 2, and 3.
During the cross-examination by the learned el for the second accused, Mr. Lali said that the investigating officers usually ask him
toim to record his statement if only they need it. Sometimes they record it soon after he retrieved forensic evidence. After recovering
the video footage, he had made a statement and saved it in his computer, which was later given to the Investigation Officer. - The third witness of the Prosecution is Dr. Roy Ferreles, who isticing medicine as a General Medical Practitioner at the Ruhe Rubina
Medical Centre. He was on duty on the 20th of August 2018. He had gone to the reception area to inquire about the number of patients
they had done in the morning. It was a brief conversation. He then went back to his consultation room. In his consultation room,
he had his backpack. It was an "Oakley" branded bag. The bag was green in colour with orange colour stripes. You may recall Doctor
Roy explained the items in the bag. Apart from the bag, he had his mobile phone and brown colour leather wallet, which he usually
put in his trousers' back pocket.
Suddenly, two i-taukei men came into his contion room; one of them was carrying a cane knife, asking for money. Doctor Roy had told
thed them to wait and then took his wallet. He had given them $100. The two men had seen more money in the wallet and asked them.
Doctor Roy had refused it and put his wallet back. Another i-taukei man came into the room, who was a bit taller than the first two.
He had grabbed Doctor Roy's neck and pulled him down. Doctor Roy had to struggle for his life when they started to punch him on his
face. One of the assailants had put his knees on Doctor's chest and the abdomen. Doctor Roy had managed to get himself free from
the assailants. The assailants then went away, grabbing his "Oakley" bag. While they were punching him, they had taken his wallet
as well.
- Doctor Roy had followed them when they left andthem crossing the road and went up to Church Street. The neighbours had called 911,
and thed the Police had responded quickly. A police twin cab came, and they also went after the robbers. Doctor Roy had seen the
robbers were entering a cassava patch along the road. On the same afternoon, he was medically examined by Doctor Ali. Doctor Ali
had prepared a medical examination report. Doctor Roy had then gone to the Valelevu Police Station as the Police had already recovered
his bag. At the Police Station, the Doctor had identified his "Oakley" backpack. Last year, he had visited the Valelevu Police
Station to identify his brown colour leather wallet.
- You have seen Doctor Roy explained the three video footage, pointing out the locations and the people in it. Doctor Roy identified
his bag when the robbers were leaving the Clinic in the footage. According to the video footage of camera 7, the robbers left the
Clinic at 1.21.52 p.m. During his evidence, Doctor Roy identified the green and orange colour "Oakley" backpack, which is later tendered
as Prosecution Exhibit 11, and the brown colour leather wallet, which is later tendered as Prosecution Exhibit 12, as to the same
bag and the wallet stolen by the robbers on the 20th of August 2018.
- The fourth witness of the Prosecution is Ms. Priya Kumar. She was the Receptionist atRubina Medical Centre on the 20th of August 2018.
Accordingrding to her evidence, at around 1.00 p.m., she had tea with Doctor Roy. After that, he went to his consultation room, and
she was on her mobile phone. Then a man dressed in a blue shirt and black shorts came in. He was wearing sunglasses and a hat. He
was going to sit, but when he saw Priya, he came to her. The person asked her whether he can fix his gold tooth. When she replied
that he could get it fixed at another medical clinic, three more men walked into the Clinic. The man dressed in the blue shirt then
came to her and pulled her down to the floor. Another man then came and pulled her chain. He then dragged her to the surgical room.
While she was dragging to the surgical room, Priya held on to the man's pants and tried to get up. She saw the blue shirt man was
wearing pants with blue stripes. Priya further saw other men were hitting Doctor Roy. The robbers then left the Clinic.
> - You may recall that Priya explained and identified the people and the incident at the Medical Cent taking us through the vide video
footage. She pointed out the man dressed in a blue shirt and black short pants with blue stripes. She identified the blue shirt that
was later tendered as Prosecution Exhibit 15 and the black shorts with blue stripes that were tendered as Prosecution Exhibit 14
as the same blue shirt and the shorts that the man was wearing when he came to the Clinic.
- Doing the cross-examination, Priya said that she did not describe the man in the blue shirt in her statement to the Police. It was
because the Police never took her to the police station, and her statement was recorded at the Clinic. You may recall the Defence
counsel asked Priya whether she saw any distinguishing mark on the man in the blue shirt, such as a tattoo for which Priya said the
man has a gold tooth.
- The next witness of the Prosecution was Doctor Ali. He had conducted the medical examination of Doctor Roy on the 20th of August 2018
at the Rubina Medical Centre.
- The sixth witness of the Prosecution is Peceli Tuisese. He was residing at Sagali Place, Nadera, in August 2018. On the 20th of August
2018, at around 1 p.m., he was getting ready to go to town. He then heard yelling, which came from outside. It was about a robbery.
He came out and saw some children, and also the people involved in the robbery were running. The children pointed him out a skinny
and tall i-taukei man running towards the main road. That man was carrying a green coloured bag. The man was wearing the bag sideways
as he put both the bag's stripes on his right side. Peceli ran after him and managed to get him held from his collar when he tried
to run through a cross-cut through a plantation. It was cassava, dalo, and banana plantation. Peceli then brought that man to the
Sagali roundabout.
While Mr. Peceli was taking the man to Sagali roundabout, the bystanders shouted, saying that the man had dropped something. He found
the man had dropped a brown leather wallet from his pocket. Peceli told the man to pick it up and put it back in his pocket, which
he did as he was asked. Mr. Peceli explained the description of the bag and the wallet. He then identified the bag, which is Prosecution
Exhibit 11, and the wallet, which is Prosecution Exhibit 12, as the same bag and the wallet he found in possession of the i-taukei
man. When he brought the man to Sagali roundabout, a police vehicle came. There was only one police officer in the vehicle. Peceli
had then handed over the man and the bag to the police officer. Then another police vehicle came.
tyle='text-indenindent:0pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;' value='37' value="37">Mr. Peceli had seen this man before as hes
in the village next to Peceli's village. He had seen him in the town as well. Mr. Peceli celi identified the first accused as the
person he had caught at Sagali in the afternoon of 20th of August 2018, when he was running, carrying a bag. You have heard Mr. Peceli
explained the area around the Sagali roundabout. It takes about 5 minutes to walk from Rubina Medical Centre to Sagali Roundabout,
but it would take 2 minutes if you run.
style='text-indenindent:0pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;' value='38' value="38">During the cross-examination, Mr. Peceli said
that he did not know about the facts of the robbery when hght the first accused. He d He denies the Defence's suggestion that the
first accused had no bag or wallet in his possession when Mr. Peceli saw him. The statement given to the Police by Mr. Peceli does
not state that the accused was running with a bag. It does not state that the accused tried to drop the wallet as well. However,
Mr. Peceli said, during the re-examination, that he told the police officer everything, including the colour of the bag and the incident
about the wallet. Still, he has not correctly recorded it in the statement.
- The seventh witness of the Prosecution is DC Nitesh Kumar. He was driving a police vehicle near the LTA office at Valelevu, at around
1.30 p.m. on the 20th of August 2018. Two other police officers were in his vehicle; they were DC Inoke and DC Willy. While they
were doing the mobile patrol, they received a message over the Radio Transmission about this alleged robbery at the Rubina Medical
Centre. The suspects were running towards the Nasole area. They had then gone to Nasole. The two officers got off the vehicle near
the short cut coming from the side of Nawanawa, Sagali Road. DC Kumar then drove his vehicle up to the Sagali roundabout. As he reaches
the Sagali roundabout, he saw some people were shouting at him to inform him that the thieves were at the back of the building. DC
Kumar had stopped the vehicle. As he got down from the vehicle, Mr. Peceli came to him with male i-taukei youth. Peceli told him
this person was involved in the robbery. He then handed the i-taukei youth to DC Kumar.
DC Kumar then re-arrested the i-taukei yout put him in the back seat of the vehicle. Mr. Peceli handed him over one green colour bag
wbag with orange colour stripes. You have seen DC Kumar identified the green colour "Oakley" bag with orange stripes; Prosecution
exhibits 11 as the same bag he received from Peceli at the Sagali roundabout on the 20th of August 2018. At the same time, another
police vehicle came with three police officers. They were Sgt. Tabalailai, DC Apolosi, and SC Paula. DC Kumar handed over the suspect
to them as he was the only officer in his vehicle.
- Moreover, he handed over the bag to SC Paula. DC Kumar said that he could not recall the clothing of the suspect. Sgt Tabalailai and
the team then took the suspect to Valelevu Police Station in their vehicle. DC Kumar then went back to Nasole to pick DC Inoke and
DC Willy. DC Kumar identified the first accused as the suspect handed over to him by Mr. Peceli.
- During the cross-examination, DC Kumar explained the distance between Rubina Medical Centre and Sagali place. It takes nearly 10 minutes
to walk to Sagali from Rubina Medical Centre if one takes the normal road. However, it would take less than five minutes to reach
Sagali from Rubina Medical Centre if one takes the shortcut. He denies the Defence's suggestion that the bag was brought to him by
DC Inoke and DC Willy as they found it during their foot patrol.
- The eighth witness of the Prosecution is SC Paula Leweniwaqa. He was attached to Southern Division Task Force and doing a mobile patrol
with Sgt Tabalailai and PC Apolosi in a police vehicle around Nasinu area on the 20th of August 2018. At about 1.20 p.m., they received
a radio transmission message informing about a robbery at Rubina Medical Centre, and the robbers were running up to Nawanawa Road.
They draw the vehicle to Sagali roundabout, which is a short cut from Nawanawa to Nasole. When they arrived at Sagali roundabout,
SC Paula saw Cpl. Nitesh and his police vehicle was parked there. Cpl. Nitesh told him to take the suspect to his vehicle from Nitesh's
vehicle. It was the first accused. Cpl. Paula then took the first accused to his car and made him sit in the back seat. He, too,
got into the driver's seat. Cpl. Nitesh then gave him a backpack bag. It was a green coloured "Oakley' bag with orange coloured stripes.
He kept the back on the passenger seat.
- SC Paula then asked the suspects if he has any other things in his possession. The suspect then a brown coloured leather waer wallet
from his pocket and handed it over to SC Paula. The suspect was dressed in a round collar t-shirt and black 3/4 shorts. SC Paula
then waited for Sgt. Tabalailai and PC Apolosi for ten minutes. They came back with another suspect. Both suspects were then escorted
to Valelevu Police Station in the police vehicle.
- At the Valelevu Police Station, SC Paula got the Crime Sergeant to make a search list for the items seized from the suspecuspect.
Once Sergeant Ofati made the search list, SC Paula and the suspect signed in it. He then handed the suspect, the bag, the wallet,
and the search list to Sgt. Ofati. You have seen SC Paula identified the bag, the Prosecution Exhibit 11, as the same bag Cpl. Nilesh
gave him and the wallet, the Prosecution Exhibit 12, as the same wallet that the suspect gave him. He further identified the first
accused as the suspect handed over to him by Cpl. Nilesh at Sagali roundabout.
- During the cross-examination, SC Paula said the search list prepared by Sgt. Ofati does not have the station's name, the full name,
the rank, and the batch number of SC Paula. He had not seen the first accused was carrying the bag. It was only DC Nitesh who gave
him the bag. When he seized the wallet, he did not open it but did it when they made the search list. SC Paula said that he did not
make a statement as Cpl. Nitesh was going to make a statement. But later, he was asked to make a statement. It was recorded in his
statement that he searched the suspect and found a brown colour wallet in his pocket. Moreover, the statement states that SC Paula
had seized the bag from the suspect. However, SC Paula said that what he said in evidence is the actual events that happened on the
20th of August 2018.
- Cpl. Salacieli Tabalailai is the ninth witness of the Prosecution. He was doing mobile patrol around the Nasinu area SC Paula and
PC Apolosi at i at around 1.20 p.m. on the 20th of August 2018. They received a Radio Transmission message regarding this alleged
robbery, and the robbers were running towards Sagali Road. Upon receiving the said message, they headed to the Sagali roundabout.
As they reached Sagali roundabout, Cpl. Tabalailai had seen a Fijian boy was running. He got down from the vehicle and ran after
the boy. Cpl Apolosi and members of the community also followed the said Fijian boy. Having followed the boy, he managed to get hold
of the boy. Cpl. Tabalailai then arrested the boy. He knew the boy as Maika Tovagone.
- In his evidence, Cpl. Tabalailai explained the detion of the clothing that Maika was wearing at the time he was arrested. He was dressed
in d in a yellow coloured vest of Suva Grammar School and black coloured surf short with blue stripes. Moreover, Maika was wearing
a pair of black coloured "puma" shoes with white stripes. Apart from that, Maika was holding a blue coloured shirt with black stripes
in his hand.
- PC Apolosi was also present when he arrested Maiaika was then escorted to the vehicle and then to the Valelevu Police Station. Later,
Cpl. Cpl. Tabalailai was informed that the police station's cell was fully occupied; hence, they had to escort Maika to Nabua Police
Station. Cpl. Tabalalai, SC Paula, and PC Apolosi then escorted Maika to Nabua Police Station. Maika was still wearing the same clothes
and holding the blue shirt in his hand.
- At the Nabua Police Station, Maika was searched, and his pair of shoes were removed. He was then escorted and locked in the cell.
He was still wearing the same black surf shorts and the yellow vest and holding the blue shirt onto his hand when locked in the cell.
You had seen Cpl. Tabalailai identified the black shoes with white stripes, the Prosecution Exhibit 13, as the same shoes Maika was
wearing when he was arrested. He further identified the black shorts with blue stripes, the Prosecution Exhibit 14, as the same shorts
Maika was wearing when he was arrested. Cpl. Tabalailai then identified the second accused as Maika.
- Cpl. Tabalailai had seen the video footage of the incidenore he made his statement to the Police. He was aware of the suspects' clothing
and knew Maew Maika's dress's descriptions was an essential factor in this matter. In his statement, there is no mention that Maika
was wrapping a blue shirt around his arm. Moreover, there is no mention that Maika was wearing a pair of canvas in the statement.
The statement states that Maika was wearing a blue running shorts. Cpl. Tabalailai had made another statement on the 1st of October
2020. Again, there is no mention of Maika wearing a pair of canvas in the second statement. However, the second statement states
that Maika was wrapping a blue shirt around his hand.
- Cpl. Tabalailai denied that Maika was wearing only a vest, black shorts, and flip flops. He was not wearing any sunglasses or a hat
when he was arrested. Maika was not arrested when he was standing at the steps of the Sagali Housing.
- Cpl. Tabalailai said the omission in his statement regarding the blue shirts, the surf shorts, and the black shoes with white stripes
was because he overlooked it in his statement.
The tenth witness of the Prosecution is PC si. He was part of the team that was in the police vehicle driven by SC Paula. When they
reey reached Sagali roundabout, he got down from the vehicle and ran towards the Sagali housing with Cpl. Tabalailai, where they
found Maika. He was dressed in a yellow colour Suva Grammar School vest, black shorts, and black and white stripes "puma" shoes.
A shirt was wrapped around his left hand. Cpl. Tabalailai arrested Maika. They escorted him to the vehicle, then to the Valelevu
Police Station. Later, they escorted Maika to Nabua Police Station. Cpl. Tabalailai took him to the Police Station, while PC Apolosi
and SC Paula were in the vehicle. Maika was still dressed in the same clothing while the blue shirt was still wrapped around his
left hand.
- PC Apolosi identified the black shoes, which is tosecution Exhibit 13, as the same shoes that Maika was wearing when he was arrested.
He fure further identified the black surf shorts with blue stripes, which is Prosecution Exhibit 14, as the same shorts that Maika
was wearing at his arrest.
PC Apolosi made his statement to the Policehe 1st of October 2020. There is no mention in the statement about the blue and black puma
puma canvas. It only states he was wearing shoes. Moreover, there is no mention of surf shorts, but it says that he was dressed in
black shorts.
- DC Inoke Tuiloaloa is the eleventh witness of the cution. He was instructed to escort Maika Tovagone from Nabua Police Station to
Valelevu Povu Police Station on the 21st of August 2018. At the Nabua Police Station, he saw DC Jiutasa was releasing Maika from
the cell. Maika was wearing a blue coloured short-sleeve shirt with black stripes, black coloured surf shorts with navy blue coloured
stripes, and black colour canvas with white stripes. Upon escorting Maika to Valelevu Police Station, DC Inoke had entered it in
the Station Diary of the Police Station.
- At around noon, he was further instructed to seize the clothing of Maika. He went to Crime Operation Room with changing clothes. Maika's
shoes were kept at the Police Station as prisoners are not allowed to have their shoes on while they were in police custody. DC Inoke
then instructed Maika to hand over his blue colour shirt with black stripes and black colour surf shorts. DC Willy was present during
that time. DC Maika then prepared a search list for those seized items. Maika then signed the search list and put the date below
to his signature. DC Inoke then signed the search list. Having done it, he handed over the items and the search list to DC Willy,
who was the interviewing officer. You could recall that DC Inoke identified the blue colour shirt with black stripes, which is Prosecution
Exhibit 15, as the same shirt he seized from the second accused. The search list was tendered in evidence as Prosecution Exhibit
No 8. DC Inoke further identified the second accused as Maika Tovagone.
- During the cross-examination, DC Inoke said that he searched the first accused o 20th of August 2018 at the Valelevu Police Station.
Upon spon searching him, the first accused was locked in the cell. Afterward, he had made an entry in the cell book. According to
the said cell book entry, DC Inoke found a red and black bag containing clothes in the first accused. DC Inoke had done foot patrol
with DC Willy in the afternoon of the 20th of August 2018 but did not find any items during the said foot patrol.
- DC Inoke had made a statement regarding his involvement in this investigation on the 28th of August 2018. The stat states the first
accused used had signed the search list. However, in his evidence, DC Inoke said that it was Maika who signed the search list.
The next witness of the Prosecution is DC Willy Naqura. He had instructed to conduct the caution interview of Maika Tovagone on the
21st of August 2018. He had brought Maika to the charge room. He was dressed in a blue shirt, black colour surf shorts, and black
puma shoes. At around noon, the interview was suspended, and Maika was taken back to the cell. After that, Maika was taken to the
Crime Operation Room to seize his clothing. DC Inoke did it in the presence of DC Willy. DC Inoke then made a search list, and DC
Willy's name was entered in the search list as he was present during the seizing.
During the cross-examination, DC Willy said that he did not find ang during the foot patrol on the afternoon of the 20th of A of August
2018.
The last witness of the Prosecution is Inspector Edward Ofati. He was the Station ant of the Valelevu Police Station in August 2018.
A team oeam of officers were deployed to arrest the suspects of the robbery at Rubina Medical Centre. They brought the first and
second accused. Sgt. Ofati had assisted in preparing the search list for the items seized from the first accused. The first accused
had signed the list but refused to put the date. The search list was tendered in evidence as Prosecution Exhibit 10. On the same
day, Doctor Roy came and identified his wallet and the "Oakley" bag. On the 21st of August 2018, Sgt.i received a cane knife, a vest, shorts, and a shirt. He cannot recall who gave him those iose items.
He received the clothing of the first accused as well. Sgt. Ofati cannot recall the colour of the shorts and the shirt. Moreover,
Sgt. Ofati said that he couldn't remember what Maika was wearing when he was brought in to the station. He can't recall who interviewed
the second accused.
You could recall that Sgt Ofati then explained the description of the shorts, saying it was made of lee material. The shirt was a
blue checked shirt with long sleeves. On the 22nd of August 2018, he had exhibited those items and entered the details in the station
diary. Sgt. Ofati has not mentioned the station's name, the rank, and batch number of SC Paula in the search list. He had waited
until all the documents were compiled to fill that information in the search list.
During the cross-examination, Sgt. Ofati said the first accused was dressed in blue coloured denim shorts and a blue coloured t-shirt
with a Fiji Bitter Logo on the back. He recognized those clothes in his evidence. Moreover, Sgt. Ofati said that the officers who
conducted the foot patrol found a cane knife.
You have seen DC Inoke Tuiloaloa was recalled to give evidence on cerissues. He tendered the black coloured shoes with white stre
stripe as Prosecution Exhibit 13, black coloured surf shorts with blue stripes as Prosecution Exhibit 14, and the blue coloured shirt
with black stripes as Prosecution Exhibit 15.
Evidence of the Defence
- After the Prosecution's case, the two accused were explained about Defence's rights. The accused opted to give evidence. I will now
proceed to summarize the evidence presented by the Defence briefly.
- In his evidence, the first accused denied this allegation, saying that he was on his way to buy tobacco from one Kevox when this incident
took place. He was living in Nausori at that time. On the 20th of August 2018, he had come to Laqere by bus to meet a friend. He
then came to Nawanawa road with the said friend in a taxi. They went to the Barrack at Reba to collect some stuff. He had seen a
police vehicle was coming when he was on his way to Kevox's place; he had thought that the Police were following him as he was on
a bench warrant. He had then run and hid in a banana plantation. While hiding in the banana plantation, a man in civilian clothes
came and arrested him. The first accused said that he was not carrying the green colour bag. Moreover, the first accused said that
he did not have the brown leather wallet. He said those items were introduced to him after he was interviewed and charged.
- The first accused further said that he was dressed in a blue coloured t-shirt with the Fiji Bitogo on the back and black cack coloured
denim shorts. You may recall that the accused said that there was no police officer of Indian origin, but all of them were i-taukei
officers. He further said that he knew all of them. But then the first accused said that he doesn't know SC Paula as he was not there.
The first accused testified that the Police took him to a place at Valelevu, where the Police Officers assaulted him. However, during
the cross-examination, the accused said after he was put into the police vehicle, he was taken to the Valelevu Police Station.
The second accused, in his evidence, denied this allegation. He said that he was at home looking aftersickly sister as his parentarent
were at work at around 1 p.m. on the 20th of August 2018. He then left home around 1.20 p.m. to meet a friend at Sagali Housing.
He took a taxi from Tacirua to come to Sagali Housing. However, he did not meet his friend, as the friend had gone somewhere. When
he was coming down on the steps, Sgt Tabalailai approached him and told him to go with him to the Police Station. He escorted him
to the police vehicle; then, another police officer came to him. They then took him to the Valelevu Police Station.
- According to the second accused's evidence, he was dressed in a yellow Suva Grammar School vest, black running shorts, and flip-flops.
He said that he never signed the search list. The search list was given to him after he was caution interviewed, and charged.
- During the cross-examination, the second accused admitted that he informed his alibi defence nine months after he was charged. He
further admitted that his alibi defence was essential information. Moreover, the second accused said he has a gold tooth and also
a missing tooth.
I have summarized the evidence presenuring this hearing. However, I might have missed some. It is not because they are not imporimportant.
You have heard every item of evidence. I only wanted to draw your attention to the main items of evidence and help you recall yourselves
of the evidence.
Analysis and Directions
- According to the evidence presented during the hearing, the Defence did not dispute the occurrence of the robbery at the Rubina Medical
Centre. Moreover, they did not dispute that the first accused was arrested by a civilian man when he was hiding behind a banana plantation.
The first accused said that he had to run and hid behind a banana plantation when he saw the police vehicle. The second accused did
not dispute that the police arrested him near the Sagali housing. However, the first and second accused claim that they were not
involved in this alleged robbery.
- In his evidence, the first accused claims that he was on his way to buy tobacco from one Kevox when this alleged robbery took place.
Though he is not disputing that a civilian arrested him, the first accused denies that he had the stolen "Oakley" bag and the brown
leather wallet in his possession.
- The second accused claims that he was at home looking aftersickly sister and then went to Sagali Housing to meet a friend. The second
accused further ther said that he was not dressed in black coloured surf shorts with blue stripes and black coloured ''puma" shoes
with white stripes at the time of his arrest. He claimed that he was not holding a blue coloured shirt with black stripes in his
hand. According to his evidence, the second accused was dressed in a yellow vest, black running shorts, and flip-flops.
- Accordingly, the main dispute in this matter is to determine whether both accused or onthem were involved in this alleged robbery,
or they were elre elsewhere at the time of this incident. To do that, you have to determine the reliability and credibility of the
Prosecution and the Defence's evidence.
Evaluation of the Evidence
- I now take your attention to the direction of the evaluation of the evidence. The evolution of evidence consists of two main steps,
the determination of the reliability and the credibility of the evidence.
Reliability of Evidence
- It would be best if you were saed that you could rely on the evidence as reliable evidencedence. To do that, you have to be satisfied
that evidence is free from mistakes, errors, and inaccuracies. If you find the evidence is free from such mistakes, errors, and inaccuracies,
you can consider the evidence as reliable evidence.
- The assessment of the credibility of evidence does not conthe unintended inaccuracy, acy, mistakes, or errors. It focuses on the lies
or inaccurate facts that are intentional and motivated attempts to deceive. The credibility depends on the individual who gives evidence,
their motivations, their relationship to, and the reaction to a particular situation.
- Evaluation of the reliability and credibility of evidence will help you determine what evidence you may accept and what part of the
evidence you may refuse. In doing that, you may accept or reject such parts of the evidence as you think fit. It is for you to decide
whether a witness is telling the truth and is correctly recalling the facts about which he or she has testified.
- In assessing the witnesses' evidence, you must consider whether the witness had the opportunity to see, hear, and or feel what the
witness is talking about in the evidence. It would be best if you then considered whether the witness's evidence is probable or improbable,
considering the circumstances of the case. Apart from that, you are required to consider the witness's consistency not only with
his or her evidence but also with other evidence presented in the case.
- You have to consider the witnesses' demeanour, how they react to being cross-examined, and re-examined and were evasive to decide
the witness's credibility.
- Moreover, you must bear in mind that a witness may tell the truth about one matter and lie about another; he or she may be accurate
in saying one thing and not accurate in another thing.
Defence of Alibi
- Let me now, take your attention to the accused's Defence, where both the accused claim that they were not present at the crime scene.
Accordingly, both accused have raised the Defence of alibi. The first and second accused presented two different versions of the
alibi. Hence, you have to consider them separately. If you find the first accused's alibi defence is true or may be true, that does
not automatically make the second accused's alibi true or may be true. Likewise, if you find the first accused's alibi defence is
false, that does not automatically make the second accused's alibi false.
- The accused are not obliged to prove their innocence and are also not required to give nce. However, in this hearing, both the accused
elected to d to give evidence. Therefore, you have to consider the evidence adduced by the Defence when you determine the issues
of this case.
- Even though the accused has put forward the Defence of alibi, the burden of proving the case against the accused remains on the Prosecution.
The Prosecution must prove so that you are sure that the accused were present and allegedly committed this crime as charged. In doing
that, the Prosecution has to disprove the alibi defence put forward by the Defence. That does not mean the Prosecution is required
to provide specific evidence to disprove that the first accused was not with a friend and was not going to buy tobacco, or the second
accused was at home and then went to see a friend at Sagali Housing. If you believe and accept the Prosecution witnesses' evidence
as credible, reliable, and truthful beyond a reasonable doubt, then the Prosecution has discharged its duty of disproving the accused's
alibi defence.
style='text-indenindent:0pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;' value='89' value="89">If you conclude that the accused's alibi is
true or may be true, then thused cannot participate in this alleged crime, and you must must find the accused not guilty. If, on
the other hand, you are sure, having considered the evidence carefully, that the accused's alibi is false, that is a finding of fact
that you are entitled to consider when determining whether he is guilty. But do not jump to the conclusion that because the alibi
put forward is false, the accused must be guilty. You should bear in mind that sometimes an alibi is invented because the accused
thinks it is easier than telling the truth. The main question for you to answer is: are we sure that this alleged incident involving
the accused took place as claimed by the Prosecution.
- Regarding alibi defence, the accused is not required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt his alibi defence. The burden of the accused
to prove his alibi is an evidential burden. It means that the accused has to adduce or point to evidence that suggests a reasonable
possibility that he was elsewhere when this alleged offence took place. If you believe or maybe believe that there is evidence that
suggests a reasonable possibility that the accused was not present at the scene of the crime and he was elsewhere, you can find the
accused not guilty.
- You have to consider the accused's evidence when you proceed to determine whether the Defence of the alibi of tcused is true or may
be true true or false. Both accused claims that they were present at the same location, closer to the alleged crime scene during
and after this alleged incident. According to the Prosecution evidence, one can run to Sagali from Rubina Medical Centre through
a short cut in a few minutes. The first accused said that he ran and hid behind a banana plantation when he saw the police vehicle.
He had thought the police were following him as he was on a bench warrant. The first accused said that he was going to buy tobacco
from one Kevox. However, he had got down from the taxi at Nawanawa because he had to pick some stuff. You may recall that he said
that he didn't know about the Sagali roundabout during the cross-examination. He further said that he was taken to a place at Valelevu
and assaulted by the police officers after he was arrested. However, during the cross-examination, the first accused said that he
was directly taken to the Valelevu Police Station from his arrest.
- The second accused said he had to look after his s sister as his parents had gone to work. Therefore he was at home at around 1 p.m.
on the 2the 20th of August 2019. Nonetheless, he left home at about 1.20 p.m. Did he not explain whether he had left his sickly sister
alone at home or his parents came back? When you determine the credibility and reliability of the Defence of the second accused's
alibi, you could consider the delay in raising his alibi defence.
Evidencedence of the Prosecution.
- As we discussed above, the prosecution case against the first accused is founded on the contention that he was found in possession
of the two stolen items, namely the bag and the wallet, a few minutes after this incident, at a location closer to the scene of the
crime. Therefore, the Prosecution invites you to conclude that the first accused was one of the four robbers who robbed the Rubina
Medical Centre. Accordingly, the prosecution case against the first accused is founded on the principle of "recent possession," which
is circumstantial evidence. The principle of "recent possession" means that if someone is found in possession of stolen property
soon after it has been stolen, and he fails to give a credible or reasonable explanation of how he came by it, it is justified in
inferring that he was either the thief or else a guilty receiver of that stolen property.
- In view of the principle of recent possession, as I explained above, it is the onus of the Prosecution to prove b a reasonable doubt
that:
- (i) The first accused was found in possession of green colour "Oakley" branded bag with orange colour stripes and a brown leather
wallet,
- (ii) The items were recently stolen from Doctor Roy,
tyle='text-indent:0ptt:0pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;'">(iii) The accused was found in possession of these stolen itemsw
minutes after the alleged incident,
- (iv) He was found in possession of these stolen items at a location closer to the place of the incident,
- (v) There are no reasonable explanations by the accused regarding his possession of the said items.
- The first accused claims that he did not have the said bag and wallet when he was arrested.
- The Prosecution claims the suspect, dressed in a blue shirt with black stripes, blurf shorts with blue stripes, and black puma shoes
with whih white stripes in the CCTV footage, is the second accused.
The Prosecution presented the evidence e forms of direct, circumstantial, and documentary.
In some instances, you may find that some facts can be proved by direct evidence. For eeample, if there is reis reliable evidence from a witness who actually saw the two accused were robbing the Rubina Medical
Centrh two others; if there is a video recording of such an incident that plainly demonstrates ttes the guilt of the both accused
or one of them; or if there is reliable evidence of the accused himself had admitted it, these are good examples of direct evidence
against the accused. In this case, the Prosecution presented three video footage covering this alleged robbery from three different
directions. The video footage is direct evidence. I will explain how you should approach analyzing the video footage in evidence
in a while.
On the other hand, direct evidence of all the elements of a crime is often not available, and the Prosecution relies upon circumstantial
evidence to prove certain elements. In this case, the Prosecution relies upon circumstantial evidence to prove the two accused’s
guilt. The case against the first accused is founded on circumstantial evidence of "recent possession of stolen items."
> - In respect of the second accusedides the evidence in video footage, the Prosecution relies on the circumstantial evidence tnce to
prove that the suspect who entered into the Medical Centre, wearing a blue coloured shirt with black stripes, black coloured surf
shorts with blue stripes, and a pair of black coloured "puma" canvas with white stripes is the second accused.
Accordingly, the Prosecution relies upon evidence of various circumstanceated to the crime and the accused, which the Prosecution
saon says, when taken together, will lead to the sure conclusion that the two accused have committed this crime with two others.
<- Circumstantial evidence can be robust evidence; indeed, it can be as powerful as, or even more pow than, direct evidence, but, but
it is important that you examine it with care, as with all evidence, and consider whether the evidence upon which the Prosecution
relies in proof of its case is reliable and whether it does prove guilt, or whether on the other hand, it reveals any other circumstances
which are or may be of sufficient to cast doubt upon the prosecution case.
- Finally, it would be best if you were careful to distinguish between arriving at conclusions based on reliable circumstantial evidence
and mere speculation. Speculating in a case amounts to no more than guessing or making up theories without adequate evidence to support
them.
- I now draw your attention to some of the cirantial evidence that the Prosecution relies on. This list is not an exhaustive list of
circ circumstantial evidence. I am doing this to assist you in understanding the circumstantial evidence. However, it is still your
decision to identify the circumstantial evidence and what inferences you could make on them.
The firs first accused.
(i) Mr. Peceli arrested the first accused at a planation of cassava, dalo, and banana.
(ii) The first accused also said that he was arrested by a civilian when he was hiding at a banana plantation, (v) He was found in possession of n of these stolen items a few minutes afte incident at a location closer to the place of the incidentident,
(vi) The Prosecution Exhibit 3, the video footage from Camera 7. The prosecution did not expressly point out any of the suspects
in the footage as the first accused, but still, you can notes of the video footage as circumstantial evidence againagainst the first
accused. In his evidence, the first accused said that he was dressed in a blue coloured t-shirt with the Fiji Bitter logo on the
back and black lee shorts. SC Paula noted that the first accused was dressed in a round collar t-shirt and black shorts. You can
see the third suspect who was leaving the medical centre after the robbery in the video footage of camera 7 was wearing black coloured
shorts. You can also observe something in blue colour under the round neck collar of his long sleeves t-shirt.
If you find these evidence presented by the prosecution is reliable, credible, and truthful, then you can consider these facts are
proven facts against the first accused. You can then proceed to determine whether these proven facts, if you take them together,
will lead to a sure and indisputable conclusion that the first accused was unloved in committing this crime with three other accomplices.
If then, you can find him guilty. If not, you must find him not guilty.
.
(i) Prosecution Exhibits No 1, 2, and 3. The first man who entered the medical centre was dressed in a blue coloured shirt with black
stripes, black surf shorts with blue stripes, and black coloured “puma" shoes with white coloured stripes,
The man in the blue shue shirt with black stripes, black surf shorts with blue stripes, and black coloured “puma” swith
white coloured stripes went in and talked to Priya, the Receptionist, and then he pull pulled her down to the ground,
Priya was asked durinduring the cross examination by the counsel of the second accused, if she has seen any distinguishing markhe
man, like a tattoo or scar, for which she replied the man had a gold tooth,
(ir> (iv) Thond accuseccused in his evidence said that he has a gold tooth,
(v) In her evidence, Priya identified the Prosecution Exhibit 14, the black surf short blue stripes, and Prosecution Exhibit 15,
the blue shirt wirt with black stripes as the same shorts and the shirt the man in the blurt was dressed in during thng the incident,
(vi) Sgt. Tabal and DCnd DC Apolosi arrested the second accused when he was dressed in black coloured surf shorts with blue stripes
and black coloured ”puma” shoes with white stripes. At the timehe arrest, the second accusaccused was holding a blue
coloured shirt in his left hand.
(vii second accused waed was arrested a few minutes after the incident at the same location where the first accused was arrested,
which is closer to the place of thident.
(viii) You can observe the position of the handshands of the man in the blue shirt when he was leaving the medical centre in Prosecution
Exhibit 3 and 1 (video footage one and three),
(ix) The second accused was dressed in the same clothing and shoes while holding the blue shirt in his hand when he was locked in
the cell at the Nabua Police Station.
(x) Bot. Talai and DC d DC Apolosi identified Prosecution Exhibithibit 13, the puma canvas and Prosecution Exhibit 14, the black
surf shorthe same shoes and the shorts the second accused was wearing at the time of his arrest, 
DC Inoke and DC Willy illy gave evidence, saying that the second accused was dressed in a blue shirt with black stripes, black surf
shorts with blue stripes, aack coloured “puma” shoes with white coloured sred stripes on the 21st of August 2018. The
two officers then seized those items and made a search list for them.
(xii) DC Inoke tendered the blue shirt as Prosecution Exhibit 15. The black surf shorts as Prosecution Exhibit 14 and black puma
shoes as Prosecution Exhibit 13, saying they were the same items he seized from the second accused. DC Willy identified them in his
evidence,
As I explained before, if you find these evidence presented by the prosecution is reliable, credible, and truthful, you can consider
these facts are proven facts against tcond accused. You can then determine whether these proven fven facts if you take them together,
will lead to a sure and indisputable conclusion that the second accused was unloved in committing this crime with three other accomplices
you can find him guilty. If not, you must find him not guilty.
- Ladies and Gentleman, it is your duty to examine the evidence presented by the Prosecution and the Defence and decide whether you
accept tept them or not. Afterward, you can determine what inference you can draw from them.
- Let me give you an example of drawing or foran inference or a conclusion, which does not arise out of the facts of this case, but
will will illustrate the need for care in judging whether the facts proved supports the inference of guilt. If my fingerprint is
found in my neighbour's home's living room, it is a sound inference that I have been in his living room at some stage. However, it
would not support an inference that I was the burglar who stole his DVD recorder from his living room. Suppose you accept my neighbour's
evidence that I have never been invited into his home, then, in the absence of some acceptable explanation from me. In that case,
you might infer that I had been in my neighbour's home uninvited at some stage. You may or may not be driven to the further conclusion
that I was the burglar. But, if you also accept that there was a second fingerprint of mine found at the point of entry or that in
my shed there was a DVD recorder found, which my neighbour recognizes as the one stolen from his living room, you would, no doubt,
conclude for sure that I was the burglar. You will notice how guilt's inference becomes more compelling, depending upon the nature
and number of the facts and incidents proved.
- What conclusion or inference you reach from the evidence is entirely for you to decide. However, considering what inferenu should
draw or what conclconclusion you should reach, it is important to be mindful that speculation has no part in this process. The inference
must be the only and certain rational conclusion of the guilt of the accused. Suppose the evidence that you accepted as reliable
suggests you some other probable inferences or conclusions, which show the innocence of the accused or create doubt about the guilt
of the accused. In that case, you are then not entitled to draw any inference of guilt of the accused person.
CCTV Footage
tyle='text-iext-indent:0pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;' value='108' value="108">In this case, no witness had seen and identified
the two accused as two of the four suspects when the oe was committed. However, ter, the Prosecution tendered in evidence three video
footage of the incident, captured by three CCTV cameras from three different directions. The Prosecution claims the first person
who entered the medical centre wearing a blue coloured shirt with black stripes, black coloured surf shorts with blue stripes, and
a pair of black coloured "puma" shoes with white coloured stripes is the second accused. Hence, you are invited to compare the second
accused and the suspect dressed in those clothes in the footage.
- The prosecution claims that it is sure that the suspect dressed in a blue shirt with black stripes, black surf shorts with blue stripes,
and black puma shoes with white stripes is the second accused. The Defence says it is impossible as the second accused was elsewhere
and dressed in a yellow vest, black running shorts, and flip-flops.
- When you compare the second accused against that particular suspect in the ge, you must carefully observe for any features common
to b to both and any different features. You have to look for physical appearance and other characteristics, such as how a person
walks, stands, uses gestures, etc. When making your comparison, you must be cautious about the following reasons.
style=tyle='text-indent:0pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;'">(i) Experience has shown that when one person identifies another,
it is possible for the person to be mistaken, no matter how t and convinced they are. Are. Also, several people identify a person
does not mean that the identification must be correct. Many people may all be mistaken, and you must have this in mind when making
your comparison. The identification of a person in the course of our daily lives can be difficult. You may be convinced that you
have seen someone you know well in the street or passing in a car, but it turns out you were misled by the similarity in appearance
between two completely different people. Here, you are not asked to recognize someone you know. You have to compare a person in the
video footage and the physical features of the second accused.
- (ii) During the trial, you had an opportunity to observe and look at the second accused in good light, at a relatively close distance,
and without any obstructions or distractions. However, none of you knew the second accused before this trial. Hence, your ability
to compare him with the suspect in the footage is not based on your previous knowledge of him. <
- (iii) The second accused's appearance may have changed since the time of the incident, which took place more than two year. Therefore,
you must not snot speculate about his appearance in August 2018.
- The reliability of your comparison depends on the quality of the images of the suspect in the footage. They are captured in the daytime.
The footages are in coloured. You must first consider whether these images of the suspect have sufficient quality to compare with
the second accused. If you find the quality is not adequate or not sure of it, you must stop this comparison exercise. If you are
sure of the quality of the images in the footage, you have to make your comparison, taking your own time and as much detail as you
need. In this respect, you are in a better position than a witness watching a fast-moving and brief encounter in real-time.
- If you conclude this suspect is similar to the second accused, it does not automaticaonfirm that the suspect in the footage must be
the second aond accused. It is only a part of the evidence of this case. You must then consider all other evidence presented in the
hearing to establish this particular suspect is the second accused. Having done that, if you are still sure that the suspect in the
footage is the second accused, you must then find the second accused is guilty of this offence. If you are not sure, you must find
him not guilty.
- You may rechat the learned counsel for the first and second accused cred cross-examined several of the prosecution witnesses about
the inconsistent nature of their evidence given in court with the statements they have given to the Police during the investigation.
The Police record the statements of the material witnesses during the investigation. It would assist the investigation team to keep
the records of the evidence of facts properly. However, the witnesses are not required to repeat everything they have stated in their
statement given to the Police in evidence. Evidence is what the witnesses say in the court. However, you are allowed to consider
such inconsistencies and omissions when you consider the witness's reliability and credibility.
- Moreover, you may recall the evidence of Sgt. Ofati, whergave a different description of the clothing he received from an officer,
claiming they wery were seized from the second accused. A forgetful witness can give contradictory versions about an event or thing,
which does not mean lying or dishonest. In evaluating the credibility and reliability of Sgt. Ofati's evidence, you must first determine,
as you are required to do with other witnesses, whether he is a forgetful witness or intentionally contradicting other witnesses.
- Suppose you find any inconsistency or omission in the evidence given by a witness with the statement he had made previously on the
same issue. In that case, it is necessary to decide whether it is significant and whether it adversely affects the reliability and
credibility of the issue you are considering. If it is substantial, you will next need to consider whether there is an acceptable
explanation for it. If there is a satisfactory explanation for the change, you may conclude that the evidence's underlying reliability
is unaffected. If the inconsistency is so fundamental, then it is for you to decide how to influence your judgment of the reliability
and credibility of such a witness.
- In doing so, you must consider that most humans do not have a photographic memory. Memory is fallible. A person could not be able
to remember every piece of detail.
Past Hist History of the Two Accused
- You have heard the first accused's evidence, stating that he rane ran and hid when he saw the police vehicle because he thought the
Police were following him as he was on a bench warrant. Moreover, the second accused said he knew Sgt. Tabalailai as he had seen
him at Nabua Police Station. The first accused was on a bench warrant, and the second accused had been to the Nabua Police Station
do not make the accused guilty of this offence. You must not consider these facts against the accused, but you can consider this
evidence to determine whether their respective evidence is reliable, credible, and truthful.
Final Directions
style='text-iext-indent:0pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;' value='118' value="118">Madam and Gentleman assessors, I now take
your attention to the final directions of the summing up.
First AccusAccused
Having taken into consideration, all the evidence adduced during the hearing, if you are satisfied that thsecution has proven beyond
yond a reasonable doubt that the first accused in company with three others have committed the offence of Aggravated Robbery as charged,
you can find him guilty for the offence of Aggravated Robbery.
- If you are not satisfied or have doubt whether the Prosec has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the first accused in company with
three others hers have committed the offence of Aggravated Robbery as charged, you can find him not guilty for the offence of Aggravated
Robbery.
Second Accused
- If you are satisfied that the Prosecution has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the second accused in company with three others
have committed the offence of Aggravated Robbery as charged, you can find him guilty for the offence of Aggravated Robbery.
- If you are not satisfied or have doubt whethe Prosecution has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the second accused in company
with tith three others have committed the offence of Aggravated Robbery as charged, you can find him not guilty for the offence of
Aggravated Robbery.
Conclusion
- Madam and Gentleman assessors, I now conclude my summing up. It is time for you to retire and deliberate in order to form your individual
opinions. You will be asked individually for your opinion and will not require to give reasons for your opinion. When you have reached
your opinion, you may please inform the clerks, so that the court could reconvene.
- Learned counsel of the prosecution and the accused, do you have any redirections to the assessors?
.................................................
Hon. Mr. Justice R.D.R.T. Rajasinghe
At Suva
05th November 2020
Solicitors
Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for the State.
Office of the Legal Aid Commission for the 1st Accused.
Office of the Legal Aid Commission for the 2nd Accused.
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