TRIAL for the two men accused of murdering a 43-year-old man at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) compound in 2023 gets underway in the High Court on Monday..

Michael Sodu and Philip Mamuala are each facing a charge of murder.

The prosecution plans to call six witnesses at the trial, which is scheduled to start at 9.30am before Judge Rex Faukona.

The accused are alleged to have committed the crime on 2 November 2023 at the NRH compound.

According to the prosecution, the deceased who suffered from a mental illness, visited the Mental Health Unit at the NRH at around 11am on the day of the incident.

He normally frequented the Mental Health Unit because he suffered from a mental illness.

The deceased then proceeded to the seafront market within the hospital compound where he allegedly reacted aggressively towards bystanders and started chasing and throwing stones at them.

This behaviour continued until the afternoon.

The prosecution alleged that Sodu attacked the deceased, but ceased the assault after being informed of the victim’s mental health condition.

Later, while the deceased was lying down at the market area, Mamuala allegedly attacked him and Sodu joined him.

Despite attempting to defend himself, the deceased was unable to do so due to his position.

He tried to sit up but, eventually fell back, struggled to breathe and tragically died at the scene.

By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN

Solomon Star, Honiara