BY ROMINAH FAKA
Two women have pleaded guilty to common assault of another woman at the GPPOL 2.
The charge was initially unlawful wounding, but was later downgraded to common assault following prosecution’s request to the magistrate court yesterday.
Prosecution informed court there was insufficient evidence from the medical report to warrant an unlawful wounding charge.
Court granted crown’s application and arraigned the two defendants, and they pleaded guilty to the common assault charge.
Prosecution also tendered to court its written sentencing submissions and highlighted the aggravating factors and the type of sentence court should impose to the defendants.
The aggravating factors highlight for the court to consider is the used of weapon, defendant Anna Vathagi used a stone to execute the offence. Crown submit that Anna picked up a stone and hit the victim forehead whilst she was grabbed by co-defendant Lisa Kope.
The offence was committed in a private property. Crown also submits that the offence was committed inside the office compound where the victim worked, the property of GPPOL 2 Tetere Estate. The defendants disrespectful and a total disregard to the property of the victim employer.
Another aggravating factors, the victim sustained injuries to her forehead. The medical report outlined that victim sustained a minor injury on her forehead. The victim forehead was covered with blood as a result of the defendant action when she was transported to the Good Samaritan Hospital on July 2, 2024.
Crown therefore submits that, defendant Anna Vathagi is to serve a custodial sentence for using a weapon which is a stone. And for Lisa Kope discretion of the court which sentence to imposed on her for helping principal defendant Vathagi to committed the offence.
Meanwhile, for the defence lawyer for defendant Lisa Kope submitted orally in court highlighting the mitigating factors which are; for court to look at Kope personal circumstances, her cooperations with the police, she is a first- time offer, she remorse for what she has done and lastly, she pleaded guilty to the substituted charged of common assault.
For the defence counsel for principal defendant Anna Vathagi, also highlight the mitigating factors for her client, those factors are; court to look at Vathagi personal circumstances, her earlier guilty plea, a first-time offender and the reconciliation which been done between the victim family and the defendant Vathagi family.
The defence lawyers for the two-defendant submitted that a sentence of fine is the appropriate sentence for court to imposed on the two defendants.
Matter adjourned to February 18, 2025 for sentencing and court directs the defence counsel for defendant Lisa Kope to file its written submissions before sentencing. Bail for two defendants extends.
Anna Vathagi and Lisa Kope are sisters in law and are charged jointly for one count of common assault and pleaded guilty to the charge.
Agreed facts, the defendants are Anna Vathagi the principal offender, 29 and Lisa Kope co-accused 40.
On July 2nd 2024 between 10 am and 11:30am at GPPOL 2 Tetere Estate Office compound.
The incident stemmed from an argument by the victim for the husband of the defendant Vathagi to have sexual affair with another girl.
On the day of the incident the victim was busy preparing chemicals for spraying at the GPPOL 2 Tetete Estate office.
The two defendants approached the victims.
Defendant Lisa Kope grabbed the victim hand and held it tightly, at the same time, Anna Vathagi grab the victim hand and hit the victim on her forehead with a stone.
The victim fell on the ground, cried in serve pain blood from her forehead.
The two defendants arrested on the 12th for August 2024 and where release on bail the same day.
Defence also submit a reconciliation taking place at Tetere Police Station between the defendant and the victim, where sum of $500 was given as compensation to the victim.
Office of Director of Public Prosecution prosecuting and Public Solicitor Office acting for defence.
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