BY ROMINAH FAKA

The trial of two men accused of killing an off-duty officer at the Dragon Pub last year commenced yesterday at the High Court before Judge John Keniapisia.

Paul Daoburi, 35, and co-accused James Solomon Kai, 21 were jointly charged with one count of murder contrary to section 200 of the Penal Code. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The trial is scheduled to continue throughout this week. The prosecution has already called one witness and will later call five more witnesses.

Yesterday, after the first crown witness completed testimony, the court adjourned for a lunch break and resumed in the afternoon for crown to call in the second witness.

Prosecution alleged that at the time of the incident, the defendant Paul Daoburi was in possession of a snooker stick, which he used to strike the deceased on the head.

His co-accused defendant James Solomon Kai was also at the Dragons and Pub area. He was in possession of a bottle which he used to hit the head of the deceased.

Following the assaults, the deceased was then rushed to the National Referral Hospital but was later pronounced dead upon arrival.

The prosecution case aims to prove that the actions of the defendants led directly to the death of the deceased.

Patricia Tabepuda Waisanau is prosecuting together with Martha Mutukera and Hubert Fugui of HOF Law Chambers acts for Kai and Oxley Limeniala for Daoburi.

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