Apisai Madigibuli, who is charged with murdering his pregnant wife, has been classified as a high risk to the community by State Prosecution, leading to objections against his bail request. Madigibuli appeared before Justice Diane Tuiqereqere at the Suva High Court yesterday, facing one count of murder.
The 27-year-old is accused of killing his 25-year-old wife, Kitiana Baravilala, who was six months pregnant, at a Suva apartment complex on July 28 of this year. Prosecutor Monisha Naidu contended that allowing Madigibuli to be released on bail would pose significant risks.
Naidu highlighted his previous convictions, noting that he was sentenced in 2022 and had just been released in December. She described the alleged crime as heinous, arguing that the timeframe since his reintegration into society was alarmingly short before he allegedly reoffended.
In her argument, Naidu elaborated on the disturbing circumstances surrounding the victim’s death and expressed concerns that Madigibuli’s release could endanger witnesses. She also raised doubts about the reliability of the two sureties, who reside in Nadi.
Naidu informed the court that if convicted, Madigibuli could face a custodial sentence and emphasized a strong possibility of his non-appearance in court. In response, defense lawyer Paula Gade requested additional time to address the State’s arguments and sought an extension until September 30. Gade also questioned the credibility checks on the State’s sureties, leading Justice Tuiqereqere to advise the prosecution to swiftly verify their reliability.
The proceedings were adjourned until September 23 to discuss pretrial matters and to make a decision regarding the bail application. Madigibuli’s production order has been extended.