No Justice Still After the Murder, Now More Than 10 Years Ago

It is more than 10 years now since a woman was murdered but no one has been convicted yet for her death. Her killer is still walking around freely.

A former Police officer who was involved in investigations into the murder of Ashika Lata McCartney in 2007 is still wondering how the case can be solved.

Deo Narayan, who has retired from the Fiji Police Force, was the Acting Superintendent of Police when Ms McCartney’s body was discovered. Mr Narayan was the officerin-charge then of the Commissioner of Police’s Special Task Force.

It was sometime in late October 2007 when Police were informed about the discovery of a decomposed body in Deuba.

“The body was found at the place where some developments are currently being carried out in Deuba,”

said Mr Narayan.

“A farmer who was in the area got a foul smell and upon checking, he found the body.

“I went to the scene with other Police officers and we started our investigations into the discovery of the body.”

Mr Narayan said following investigations, Police charged Ashika’s husband Simon McCartney with her murder.

He said the murder charge against Mr McCartney was withdrawn in court.

“But we charged him again after a few days and produced him in court and a trial was later held at the High Court in Suva,” he said.

“A key prosecution witness who allegedly saw something at the scene of the crime had gone to the United States of America. “The case was adjourned on a few occasions and the witness later came from USA and gave evidence in court.

“Ashika’s husband was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court and was ordered to serve a minimum of 18 years.” Mr Narayan said Mr McCartney then appealed against his conviction and sentence in the Fiji Court of Appeal.

He said the Fiji Court of Appeal acquitted Mr McCartney.

“The acquittal of Mr McCartney basically means that Ashika’s killer is still out there somewhere,” he said.

“We did our best and charged the person we suspected at that time who had killed Ashika.

“But his acquittal just means that whoever killed Ashika is walking around freely and the case is unresolved.

“As a Police officer who was involved in investigations into Ashika’s murder, I’m still wondering how the case can be solved. “There are many questions that still linger in my mind and I know that Ashika’s family members are also waiting for answers.” Mr Narayan said the case file should be re-opened and Ashika’s killer should be tracked down by Police and charged.

Ashika, who was 29 years old when she was killed, is believed to have been strangled to death.

During the trial in October 2008, Mr McCartney told the High Court that he had no reason to kill his wife as he had loved her and still loved her dearly despite having another girlfriend.

According to the Fiji Sun of October 23, 2008, Mr McCartney told the High Court that he had no intention of murdering his wife as claimed by her family even though he was in another relationship in Fiji while she was away in Australia. Mr McCartney denied in court that he strangled Ashika to death, saying he had never been to the crime scene.

He told the court that when he first heard that Ashika was missing, he refused to believe it because it was common knowledge that she would be at a relative’s place.

He said his girlfriend told him that she heard Ashika was missing and he reiterated in court that he would never hurt his wife as she was special to him.

Mr McCartney had also denied suggestions by the State in court that he was last seen with Ashika at a feeder road in Deuba between 7pm and 8:30pm on October 22, 2007.

He told the court that he got home from Nadi after 8pm on that day and it would be impossible that he was spotted at that time.

Ashika arrived in the country on October 22, 2007 and was picked from the Nadi International Airport by Mr McCartney.

However, Mr McCartney had told Police that Ashika got off in Sigatoka and boarded a taxi, saying it was the last he had seen of her. Ashika’s body was found a few days later.

Mr Narayan said there has to be a closure to the case and justice needs to be served in order to give comfort to Ashika’s family.

As a Police officer who was involved in investigations into Ashika’s murder, I’m still wondering how the case can be solved. There are many questions that still linger in my mind and I know that Ashika’s family members are also waiting for answers Deo Narayan Former Police officer