Edward Nand, accused of murder, has denied sending explicit videos and nude pictures of his former girlfriend to Narend Chand and two others while impersonating her for money.
Nand and Salimoni Lagicere are on trial for the alleged murder of Fiji-born Canadian Narend Chand in Tailevu in February last year.
During proceedings on Wednesday at the High Court, prosecutor Zenith Zunaid stated that Nand had said, during a caution interview, his ex-girlfriend, Leba Ratabacaca, had threatened to leave him if he was financially unstable. This led Nand to devise a scam using a girlish voice to pretend he was Ms. Ratabacaca.
The court heard Ms. Ratabacaca allegedly sent explicit videos and nudes to Nand, who then threatened to post them on social media if she left him. Nand denied sending the explicit content, which he dubbed “goodies,” to three men for payments through M-PAISA and Western Union.
Prosecutor Zunaid asserted that Ms. Ratabacaca gave truthful evidence and was not involved in Nand and Lagicere’s plan. Ms. Ratabacaca left Nand on February 20, 2023, and from February 23 to 27, Nand made various online pornography searches. Nand denied remembering this, suggesting others in his household could have accessed his phone.
Nand confirmed a plan to talk to Mr. Chand but did not admit intending to kill him if the plan failed.
Zunaid argued that Nand intentionally omitted disclosing to the police the purchase of an electrical cord, indicating premeditation. Nand admitted to hitting Chand thrice on the shoulder, whereas the prosecution claimed there were 10 “hard punches” to Chand’s face and head while Lagicere strangled him with the cord. Zunaid stated that during the assault, Nand instructed Lagicere in iTaukei to “punch him nicely my brother, so he dies.”
Nand denied his father’s involvement, claiming it was his girlfriend who acted as a lookout while the body was disposed of. He pointed out that his father reported him to the Nausori Police Station on February 21.
Zunaid argued that Nand was evasive and lying under oath and played a significant role in the assault. Nand admitted to making false statements during a five-hour caution interview, alleging he was threatened and assaulted.
Justice Siainiu Fa’alogo Bull adjourned the case to August 16.