BY ROMINAH FAKA

The plea hearing for a man accused of rape and murder of a woman in the Guadalcanal Plains in May 2025, which was scheduled for this Wednesday, July 23, 2025 has been postponed for next Wednesday, July 30.

Prosecution only served the disclosures to the defence on Wednesday this week.

As a result, the defence sought time to obtain instructions from the defendant and prepare him for plea.

Richard Sonia, 25, is charged with one count of murder contrary to section 200 of Penal Code, and one count of rape contrary to section 136 F (1) (a) and (b) of the Penal Code, as amended by the Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016.

Both charges carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The deceased was a 29-year-old woman.

The incident occurred on May 21, 2025 in the cocoa area near GPPOL II, North Guadalcanal.

Sonia was allegedly intoxicated when he encountered the deceased while she was washing clothes at a well.  

It is further alleged that the defendant attempted to grab the deceased but when she resisted, he used a stone to hit her on the forehead and then raped her.

The deceased later died allegedly as a result from the attack by the defendant.

Office of Director of Public Prosecution is prosecuting and PSO represents the defendant.

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