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Illustration of Judge ‘puts foot down’

Judge Takes Stand Against Unnecessary Court Summons

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Justice Pita Bulamainaivalu of Suva has expressed his discontent with the unnecessary summoning of individuals to court solely for explanatory purposes. This statement came during the proceedings of a murder case involving 28-year-old Anare Vuli Cilicewa, who stands accused of fatally injuring Shabreen Shain Ali during a dispute on September 8.

The court is currently awaiting a psychiatric evaluation report from Dr. Kiran Gaikwad, a psychiatrist from St Giles Hospital. During a previous session, Dr. Gaikwad indicated the need for more time to complete his assessment and requested additional information related to the case. While Justice Bulamainaivalu agreed to provide the requested information, he expressed reluctance to release confidential disclosures.

Defence attorney Manisha Singh argued that these disclosures were essential for Dr. Gaikwad to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident and perform a thorough evaluation. She proposed summoning the psychiatrist for clarity; however, Justice Bulamainaivalu rejected this suggestion, emphasizing that it would be unnecessary to call in busy individuals for such matters. He remarked that it was the responsibility of the defence to manage Dr. Gaikwad’s requests.

The defence was provided a window of 14 days to address these issues. Meanwhile, Mr. Cilicewa is still waiting for key documents, including photographs from the crime scene and the post-mortem report. State lawyer Zenith Zunaid has also been granted a 14-day timeframe to deliver these materials. Mr. Zunaid stated that existing disclosures have provided sufficient grounds for the murder charge, which alleges choking and strangulation as the cause of death.

Mr. Cilicewa remains in custody until the next court hearing scheduled for December 3.

Overall, this case highlights the crucial balance between judicial efficiency and the rights of the accused, underscoring the need for a fair and expeditious legal process. The focus on minimizing unnecessary court appearances reflects a commitment to preserving judicial resources, which can ultimately benefit all parties involved in the long run. The scheduled upcoming court date offers a path towards resolution and possibly justice for the parties affected.


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