THE police have been urged to complete their investigation into the case of three brothers accused of assaulting another man to death at Markworth area, Lungga, Central Guadalcanal last month.

Junior Kupa, 21, Richard Kupa, 25 and Mathias Kupa, 22 are each facing a murder charge.

Their case was mentioned in the Honiara Magistrate’s Court last week and was further adjourned to June 25 to allow police to complete their investigations.

Public Prosecutor Martha Mutukera told the court that only two outstanding documents were needed: a forensic photo album and post- mortem report.

She also stated that partial disclosures had been made and would be served to the defendants’ lawyers once they were legally represented.

Ms Mutukera added that the case file is yet to be formally transferred to them and that they are yet to allocate a prosecutor.

When asked by the court about their legal representation, each of the defendants stated that a lawyer had visited them, but unfortunately, they had forgotten the lawyer’s name.

Principal Magistrate Elma Veenah Rizzu Hilly having heard from all counsels directed the Public Solicitor’s Office (PSO) to allocate lawyers for the defendants and for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to serve partial disclosures.

The Police were also directed to complete their investigations and serve the outstanding documents before the next court date, which is on June 25.

Magistrate Hilly stressed that all necessary steps must be completed by the next date and remanded the defendants.

The brothers are accused of assaulting Benjamin Iniga to death on May 10 at Markworth area in Lungga area.

Prosecution alleged the incident occurred after an argument between Iniga and another man, Leana.

It was alleged the deceased tried to grab a SB can from another person’s hand.

However, the other person allegedly pulled his hand back and told him he would not give him any beer due to his bad behaviour.

The other person allegedly told the deceased that he normally caused problem when he was drunk, which resulted in the deceased’s mother paying the fines to other parties.

The deceased became angry and swore at him.

The other person then allegedly ran back to his house to get a knife, but his father stopped him.

It was alleged that Richard then arrived and asked the other person what swear words the deceased had said to him.

When the other person allegedly told him, Richard walked up to the deceased and accused him of his bad behaviours.

He then assaulted the deceased.

His other two brothers joined in to assault the deceased until he was no longer moving.

The deceased was later rushed to the National Referral Hospital (NRH) where he was confirmed dead.

By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN

Solomon Star, Honiara