BY ROMINAH FAKA
The Pre-Trial-Conference (PTC) for the case against Micheal Sodu and Philip Mamuala, charged with murdering a man at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) in November 2023 is yet to be finalised.
Prosecution yesterday informed court they had served PTC documents to defence on Tuesday this week.
Defence sought the court time to allow them to look through the PTC documents.
Court adjourned for September 12 for mention. Counsels to settle the PTC during the course of adjournment.
Micheal Sodu and Philip Mamuala are charged jointly with one count of murder and both pleaded not guilty.
The matter was committed to the High Court for the two defendants to stand trial.
The two accused are facing an allegation that occurred on November 2, 2023 at the NRH Compound.
Around 11am that day, the 43-year-old deceased went to the Mental Health Unit.
It is said the deceased normally visits the Mental Health Unit because he suffered from a mental illness.
Prosecution further alleged that the deceased later went to the sea-front market located at the Hospital compound where he aggressively reacted to the people who were there and started chasing them.
He also allegedly threw stones.
This was continued until the afternoon when Sodu allegedly attacked the deceased. Sodu stopped assaulting the deceased after he was told that the deceased was a mentally-ill person.
Later, when the deceased was lying down at the market area, the accused Mamuala went and attacked him, and Sodu also joined in the attack.
The deceased tried to defend himself from both men but was unfortunately not able to do because he was lying down.
He tried to sit up but then fell back and struggled to breathe and unfortunately died on the spot.
DPP appears for Crown and PSO appears for defence.
