Woman claims husband dared her

Awoman alleged to have murdered her husband at Sakoca, Suva, on November 17, 2016, told the High Court that he was shouting the words, “Burn Me! Burn Me!” to her.

Marriane Premila Devi told the court that on the day of the incident her husband, Bal Krishna Naidu, used abusive language and his tone was harsh.

She is charged with one count of murder. Devi said the main cause of their argument was that she gave him $150 to repair their taxi window screen, but instead he used the money to buy alcohol.

She testified that in the heat of their argument she took a bowl of kerosene which was under the study table and poured it on her partner.

Devi then went to the kitchen and sat down while her husband kept daring her to burn him.

After a while she took an old newspaper which was on top of the dining table and lit it. She said without her knowledge her partner walked up and stood behind her and when she turned around the lit newspaper touched his pants and he caught fire.

She added that her husband immediately walked out of the kitchen while she threw the lit newspaper under the tap in the kitchen sink and grabbed a basin to fill with water.

She said at that instance the door curtain and the kitchen rug caught fire and she tried to put it out by splashing water on it.

Devi said after doing so she went to the bathroom and saw her husband under the bathroom tap. With the same basin that she used to put out the fire in the kitchen, she also used it to splash water on her husband. Meanwhile, Justice Salesi Temo warned Devi not to be evasive when answering questions put forward by lawyers.

He said Devi was being evasive in her answers because she did not answer the questions point blank. He advised Devi to think before giving an answer as it affected her credibility in court.

The trial continues in the High Court on Monday. Devi is remanded in custody. Edited by Epineri Vula