The attorney representing a man accused of murdering his 25-year-old wife has not yet met with the Director of Public Prosecutions for a pre-trial discussion. Paula Gade, from the Legal Aid Office, is defending 27-year-old Apisai Madigibuli, who is alleged to have fatally stabbed Kitiana Baravilala in a Suva apartment on April 25.
During a recent hearing before Justice Dane Tuiqereqere at the High Court in Suva, Mr. Gade mentioned that he had not yet met with the DPP’s lawyers to discuss agreed facts or the pre-trial conference checklist. He noted that he had sent an email requesting a meeting, but had not received a response from the State.
Mr. Gade requested that the case be addressed earlier in the week as he would be unavailable due to planned leave until after September 16. In response, DPP lawyer Triveshni Sharma indicated that the officer overseeing the case was out of the country and would return by August 20.
Sharma also proposed another date to discuss preliminary issues; however, Mr. Gade opposed this due to his upcoming absence. Justice Tuiqereqere granted Mr. Gade’s request to submit voir dire grounds, and also expressed expectations for the pre-trial conference to be properly organized with voir dire disclosures submitted by September 23.
On the topic of bail, the defense noted a change in the second surety and requested additional time to submit supplementary affidavits. Justice Tuiqereqere approved Mr. Gade’s request for another attorney to manage Mr. Madigibuli’s bail application. Additionally, Ms. Sharma’s request to file a response within 14 days was also granted.