THREE men accused of setting fire to two houses in West Guadalcanal in 2022 will learn of their fate on December 30.

That is when Principal Magistrate Fatima Taeburi will deliver her judgement.

Lawyers representing the three defendants have been directed to file their closing submissions by 3pm on Wednesday.

Magistrate Emily Zazariko Vagibule Pakoa gave the directions on Tuesday when she mentioned this matter on behalf of Magistrate Taeburi.

The defendants, John Longatabo, Saverio Mate and Lency Raga have been on trial for two counts of Arson and one count of Assault Causing Actual Bodily Harm.

The prosecution closed their case after calling only one witness, who was the complainant in the two arson charges.

It was unable to call two of its witnesses due to lack of funds.

At the end of the prosecution case, the defence counsels from the Public Solicitors Office, Delilah Kukura Fagani, Ron Dicky Pulekera and Lazarus Waroka made No-Case to answer submissions.

The No-Case to answer submissions were rejected by Magistrate Taeburi, who found the defendants do have cases to answer on the two Arson charges, except for the Assault Causing Actual Bodily Harm charge.

The three defendants were therefore acquitted of the Assault Causing Actual Bodily Harm.

The defence did not call any witnesses for its case, prompting the matter to proceed to the closing submissions stage.

According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly set fire to the two dwelling houses on 12 October 2022 between 12 noon and 12 midnight at Kakalu village, with Mate intentionally lighting the fire with the assistance of the other two defendants.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants struck matches to dried sago palm leaves and burned down the two houses. 

The incident occurred after a group of boys demanded compensation from the complainant, claiming that he had stolen their live pig, and threatened to burn down his house if their demands were not met.

Public Prosecutor Paul Junior Fanasia is representing the Crown in the case.

By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN

Solomon Star, Honiara