The High Court in Suva has acquitted Akuila Noa of a murder charge after a careful review of the evidence presented by the Prosecution. On December 17, 2025, Justice Thusara Rajasinghe concluded that the Prosecution did not meet the burden of proof necessary for a conviction.
Noa faced charges in connection with the murder of night security guard Vinay Vishaal Prasad, who was killed on April 21, 2023, in Samabula. The Prosecution’s case relied heavily on circumstantial evidence, bringing in 31 witnesses and 49 exhibits, which included CCTV footage and DNA evidence found at the crime scene.
However, Justice Rajasinghe identified significant weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, particularly questioning the reliability of both the CCTV identification and the DNA evidence. The judge noted that the CCTV footage did not provide a clear or credible identification, as witnesses based their recognition on walking styles and vague facial features, undermining the quality of the evidence presented.
Moreover, the court scrutinized the DNA evidence, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the chain of custody. It was found that there were contradictions between the testimonies of crime scene investigators and forensic officers, in addition to the Police Forensic Biology and DNA Laboratory lacking accreditation. Justice Rajasinghe pointed out that the DNA deemed as trace DNA could have been transferred to the scene through indirect means, raising doubts about its origins. The judge suggested there was a possibility that an unknown individual had introduced evidence at the scene, creating reasonable doubt regarding the presence of Noa’s DNA.
Ultimately, Justice Rajasinghe determined that, due to the discredited identification evidence and unreliable DNA findings, the Prosecution had not established Noa’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. As a result, Akuila Noa was declared not guilty and acquitted of all charges, although the State has 30 days to appeal the ruling to the Fiji Court of Appeal. This decision underscores the critical importance of robust evidence in criminal cases and affirms the principle that anyone accused is entitled to a fair trial based on solid proof.
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