Father appears in court for son’s murder

The 46 year old father charged with the alleged murder of his 8 year old son appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court this afternoon and turned down the option of bail.

Mahendra Sharma appeared before Magistrate Mary Muir this afternoon and told the Court that he did not want bail as he understood the severity of his case and would require legal aid.

The Court heard that between July 11th to the 23rd of September this year, Sharma is alleged to have killed his son Sidharta Sharma and took to hiding in the bushes.

DPP lawyer Nilesh Nand told the Court that if Sharma had appealed for bail, they would have objected to it as the accused was an educated man.

Nand also said that the accused needed to be remanded in custody as he had earlier told Police that he was suicidal, while in hiding for close to 2 months, and also the fact that he was currently un-employed, did not have a fixed address and could not afford bail.

However, the accused, Mahendra Sharma then told the Court that he was happy to remain in Police custody.

The case has been transferred to the Suva High Court for mention on the 9th of next month, where a plea is expected to be taken.