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Judge Rejects Unnecessary Court Summons in High-Profile Murder Case

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Justice Pita Bulamainaivalu, a judge in Suva, expressed his concern regarding the unnecessary summoning of individuals to court solely for the purpose of providing explanations. This statement came during a hearing related to the murder case of Anare Vuli Cilicewa, 28, who is accused of fatally injuring Shabreen Shain Ali during a heated argument on September 8.

The court is currently awaiting a psychiatric evaluation report from Dr. Kiran Gaikwad at St. Giles Hospital. Dr. Gaikwad had previously indicated the need for more time to conduct the evaluation, and he requested specific information regarding Mr. Cilicewa. Although Justice Bulamainaivalu agreed to release some of this information, he was cautious about disclosing confidential details.

Defense attorney Manisha Singh argued that Dr. Gaikwad required the disclosures to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the alleged incident. She proposed summoning Dr. Gaikwad to provide a detailed explanation regarding his request. However, Justice Bulamainaivalu declined this suggestion, stating that it was “unnecessary to summon people, left, right and centre” as they have busy schedules. He emphasized that it was the defense’s responsibility to address Dr. Gaikwad’s requests adequately.

Moreover, Mr. Cilicewa has not yet received vital documents, including a photograph of the crime scene and the post-mortem examination report. The state lawyer, Zenith Zunaid, has also been allocated 14 days to provide these documents. He maintained that the previous disclosures were sufficient to draft the murder charge, which cited choking and strangulation as the cause of death.

Mr. Cilicewa remains in custody, with his next court appearance scheduled for December 3.

In light of the situation, it is hopeful to observe that the judicial process is being carried out with careful consideration for efficiency and respect for individuals’ time. As the court system navigates this complex case, it underscores the importance of due process and the careful consideration of both the defense and the prosecution’s needs in achieving a fair outcome.


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