Congo man gets lawyer on pro bono

A Congo national, who is charged with the murder of his wife, has been provided a lawyer to represent him on pro bono.

The matter of 39-yearold Kiala Marcellino Penakoy Henri Lusaka was called before Judge Justice Daniel Goundar yesterday.

The court heard that lawyer, Varea Seduadua, on instructions from the president of the Fiji Law Society would be representing the accused pro bono.

However, Lusaka who is in remand, did not appear for his case due to restrictions from the Fiji Corrections Service. Lusaka is charged with one count of murder of his 44-year-old wife, Jennifer Anne Downes, an Australian national.

The alleged incident occurred on July 23, 2019, at their rented home in Service Street, Suva.

The previous lawyer from the Legal Aid Commission, Krisheel Chang, told the court that in December last year, after the Legal Aid rejected Lusaka’s legal representation, the disclosures were handed to Lusaka in person in court.

The matter has been adjourned for a pre-trial conference on June 8. A production order has been issued for Lusaka to be present in court on the next court date.