State to file third phase of disclosures

Prosecution will file the third phase of disclosures in the case of a man charged for the alleged murder of a 30 year old Lautoka woman by next week.

This is in the case of Saimoni Seru who is alleged to have murdered Karishma Gounder at Lomolomo last year. Ms Gounder’s body was found floating in the sea near a private property at Lomolomo Beach on November 12, 2022 by a farmer.

The matter was heard before Judge Justice Riyaz Hamza on Monday, with the defence was represented by Legal Aid Commission lawyer Kelly Vulimainadave. State lawyer Mohammed Rafiq told the court the second phase of disclosures had been filed and he confirmed that the photographs of the deceased were included in the second phase of the discolsures. Ms Vulimainadave said there were additional disclosures yet to be filed by the state.

She said the caution interview and charge statement were not in the first and second phases of the disclosures therefore she inquired how the defence would be able to file the voir dire grounds. The court heard that the post-mortem examination report was also not available.

Mr Rafiq said prosecution noted this and would file the same with the third phase of disclosures

The court heard that the second accomplice Rinal Ravinesh was in New Zealand and that the state was in the process of compiling documents and seeking mutual assistance in order to have him formally charged.

Justice Hamza said the second accomplice must be charged first before the state sought mutual assistance, and that a new case should have been filed against him at the Magistrates Court in Lautoka before having the matter transferred to the High Court in Lautoka.

Justice Hamza adjourned the substantive and bail matters respectively to April 6 and further remanded Seru.