A 24-year-old student charged with five counts of murder, one count of aiding and abetting arson one count of attempted murder and one count of damaging property took the stand in the Suva High Court.
Matthew Gunua is charged with Binesh Prasad in relation to the death of five people in Navosai, Nasinu in October 2015.
Gunua told High Court Judge, Justice Salesi Temo that he had never thought that Prasad would do something like this.
Gunua who is originally from PNG told the court that he has known Prasad for the last five years as Prasad used to provide taxi services to his family.
He told the court that he met Prasad at Vivras Plaza in Laucala Beach on 14th October 2015 and was asked by Prasad to accompany him to Nadi to pick a friend who was coming from New Zealand.
Gunua then told the court that they stayed over in Nadi and was told by Prasad that his friend’s flight from New Zealand got cancelled.
He says they travelled back to the Central Division the next day through Kings Road and had stopped in Tavua and Rakiraki where Prasad had asked him to buy a knife, gloves, a file and three empty 20 litre gallons.
Gunua then told the court that Binesh Prasad also stopped at a fuel station in Korovou and filled the gallons with fuel.
He told the court that they also bought some drinks and later went to Navosai where Prasad received some phone calls near his house
Gunua told Justice Salesi Temo that Prasad was swearing on the phone and was saying that he is going to burn the house and kill everybody.
He told the court that he then asked Prasad for his taxi fare to go home.
Gunua says Prasad asked him to put the knife and three gallons filled with fuel on the porch of his house and in return he would give him his taxi fare.
Gunua says he put the gallons on the porch, hid the knife in the garden and left the scene.
When asked by defence lawyer, Alofa Seruvatu on why he hid the knife in the garden, Gunua said he thought Prasad may start a fight with his family.
Gunua told the court that he did not know what Prasad did afterwards.
Meanwhile 34‑year‑old Binesh Prasad who is also charged in relation to the death of five people has pleaded guilty to all charges.
