Eye witness testifies in stabbing trial

A40-year-old man told the court what he saw on the day Rakesh Narayan allegedly stabbed his ex-wife. Jason Kean Autar, who was at the Shop n Save supermarket car park on May 16, last year told the court that he saw Narayan allegedly stab Shakindra Devi.

The matter was heard before Judge Justice Riyaaz Hamza at the High Court in Suva. Rakesh Narayan is charged for a count each of attempted murder and act with intent to cause grievous harm.

The state is represented by Kimberley Semisi and Narayan is representing himself.

Narayan, 47, is alleged to have stabbed his ex-wife Ms Devi on the face outside Shop N Save supermarket in Nakasi on May 16, last year.

Mr Autar told the court that he had taken his mum to Shop n Save supermarket in Nakasi on that day as his mum wanted to buy something.

He stated that he reached the supermarket around 8.55pm and he waited for his mum in the car while she went to get her things. “At 9pm the flood lights at the car park went off and I was playing games on my phone when I felt a bump on my car,” Mr Autar said.

“When I turned to the left side of the passenger’s seat, I saw a man pulling a woman to the supermarket’s direction,” he said. “While he was pulling her, she was pulling herself back refusing to go and it is then when I saw him attempt to stab her in the mid section of her body.

“Failing to stab her mid section, he then lifted his hand and stabbed her from the top of her head and neck.”

It was highlighted by Mr Autar that his vision was clear as he had turned on his headlights the minute he saw Narayan trying to stab Ms Devi.

“After stabbing her, he left her and ran towards the supermarket where he had parked his car and he zoomed out in full speed.” During cross-examination Narayan put it to Mr Autar that the angle in which the incident took place from his car, the headlights would not have covered the area the alleged act took place in.

Mr Autar replied that the incident happened within the zone of the light as there were two sources of light, one coming from the supermarket and another from his car headlights.

Narayan further asked Mr Autar if he had seen him clearly on that night.

“I can recognise him and his intoxicated face as his eyes were red and he was not acting normal,” Mr Autar said. Narayan further asked Mr Autar if he knew what colour of clothes he was wearing to which he responded saying that he couldn’t remember.

Narayan further stated to Mr Autar that he could see his eyes were red but couldn’t see the color of his clothes.

“I was more focused about the incident then his clothes and I could see his eyes because he was beside the passenger window facing me when he was pulling Ms Devi,” said Mr Autar.

The case continues today.