Witness: I saw Lolohea stab partner, 22

The Prosecution's main witness Rasha Ali gave witness in the Suva High Court yesterday alleging that Timoci Lolohea stabbed Elenoa Dicovi in Nasilivata, Nadera, a year ago.

The trial of Lolohea, 56, began before High Court Judge Salesi Temo where the court heard he was charged with one count of murder.

He is alleged to have murdered his defacto partner Ms Dicovi, 22, by stabbing her on March 20 in Nadera.

Lolohea was represented by Legal Aid lawyer Lisiate Qetaki.

The Court heard that Lolohea was legally married but was separated about four years ago. He got involved with the deceased who was his niece and they had a child together. Lolohea surrendered to the Lami Police Station on the day of the incident and said that he had killed the deceased. In responding to questions raised by State Prosecutor Siteri Naria, eyewitness Ms Nisha said Ms Dicovi was her babysitter. Ms Ali said it was on a Monday morning, March 20 that her husband had left for work and the deceased had just finished feeding her two and a half-year-old son (Ms Nishas's).

She said they were in a conversation when they saw Lolohea standing at the door of their house.

“I was shocked and did not know how he came there.”

Ms Ali said Lolohea was the deceased's defacto partner. Ms Dicovi did not want to see him.

She said Lolohea and the deceased conversed in iTaukei and when she took her son to the room she heard a loud scream. Ms Ali said later she saw Lolohea punch the deceased who fell on a chair in the front porch of the house.

“I could not do anything, I was shocked,” she said.

She said Lolohea struck the deceased with a knife and Ms Dicovi was fighting back. “She was fighting back and pushed him with both her hands, they tripped on another chair, and they both fell on the grass area on the compound,” the witness said. “When this happened I quickly closed the front door and called my husband.”

She said she could still see Ms Dicovi who was on the ground on her back facing Lolohea who was on top of her sitting on her legs and stabbing her.

Justice Temo again asked if she did see Lolohea stabbing the deceased? Ms Ali said: “Yes I saw him holding the knife and he was stabbing her.”

The trial continues today.