The third prosecution witness in the murder trial of two former police officers, Kelepi Kolinisau and Selema Tikoenaburevere has revealed in court that the CCTV footage from 2nd September last year self-deleted after a month and there is no backup.
Kolinisau and Tikoenaburevere allegedly murdered Josua Lalauvaki last year.
Sergeant Pradip Lal revealed this after he was asked by Tikoenaburevere's lawyer, Akuila Naco if he had checked the CCTV footage of the alleged assault that happened on 2nd September last year.
Lal says he was advised by the technician that the system deleted the images after a month.
However, he maintains that he saw Tikoenaburevere allegedly hold Lalauvaki by the neck, lift him and push him to the ground and that Kolinisau had allegedly stomped the person on the ground.
When questioned by Kolinisau's lawyer, Barbara Malimali why he did not report an alleged crime, Lal says that ASP Rusiate Ryland was present at the scene and he is more senior in rank. He says ACP Ryland had told him that he will deal with the situation.
He said when he came to work on 5th September last year, he was informed by some officers that a man was admitted at the CWM hospital adding that when he went to the hospital he found out that it was Lalauvaki.
Lal denied when Malimali put to Lal that the story he told the court was to cover up the dereliction of his duty in not reporting the crime and Lal is trying to save himself by blaming Kolinisau for something he did not do.
