The High Court in Suva has granted a final adjournment for the pretrial conference of Inoke Qalo Loloma, who is accused of murder. Defense attorney Shirley Tivao represented Loloma in court last Friday before Justice Thushara Rajasinghe and requested another adjournment because the lead attorney, Susan Serukai, was unavailable.
Loloma faces charges of murder for allegedly fatally assaulting a 43-year-old man during a drinking party on Christmas Eve last year in Vugalei. During the hearing, Tivao informed the court that State Prosecutor Tevita Naimila expressed a desire to meet again for another pretrial conference, but Serukai was unable to attend.
Justice Rajasinghe remarked that the court could not continue to grant adjournments, noting that the matter had been pending for over two weeks. Tivao mentioned that she may now take over the case as she is being reassigned. She also indicated that Serukai had been hospitalized again on Thursday evening, which prevented her from attending.
Tivao stated that she had not yet discussed trial strategy with Serukai and could not make any decisions regarding the case while only appearing based on instructions. The pretrial conference has now been rescheduled for January 31, 2025.