Man found not guilty for murder by reason of mental impairment

The Suva High Court has found Fabiano Dakai not guilty by reason of mental impairment for allegedly killing 34-year-old Timoci Dogai in 2019 in Waidradra, Navua.

While delivering his judgement, High Court Judge, Justice Daniel Goundar says he has given his own close scrutiny of the evidence including the reports of the three psychiatrists and is satisfied that it is more likely than not that on 4th February 2019, Dakai was suffering from a mental illness namely schizophrenia.

Justice Goundar says evidence produced by the prosecution state that the man had told his relatives that he was being controlled by the deceased through witchcraft and killing him was the right thing to do.

He says Dakai also told several of his relatives a day after the alleged incident that Goliath had been killed so victory to David.

Justice Goundar further says based on the assessment of one of the psychiatrists, Dakai was mentally unwell and that he displayed significant symptoms of mental illness, namely schizophrenia and she also concluded that the accused did the alleged killing under the influence of mental illness.

He further says another assessment done by the psychiatrist at the Saint Giles Hospital in December, 2019, ruled out substance induces psychosis because he continued to have symptoms for about 7 months during the period he was admitted in the hospital and did not have access to illicit drugs.

Fabiano Dakai will be confined at the Saint Giles Hospital until he is released.