Two men who pleaded guilty to assaulting their daughter and sister because of the lifestyle she is living in Australia have been acquitted and discharged by the Lautoka High Court.
High court Judge Justice Paul Madigan notes that on 25th March this year, the two men pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and that the victim of the assaults is the sister of the first accused and the daughter of the second accused.
The victim was visiting from Australia where she lives and the two men were unhappy with her lifestyle and beat her up.
The two told the Magistrates court that they tried to reconcile with the victim following which the Magistrate terminated the proceedings stating that he hoped they all would reconcile overtime.
The DPP's Office appealed the decision saying that the Magistrate had erred in law by terminating the proceedings after the two men pleaded guilty to the charges.
However, Judge Madigan after reviewing the case ordered that for the removal of doubt, the two men are acquitted and discharged and he encouraged them to reconcile with their sister and daughter respectively, no matter what they think of her lifestyle.
Story by: Roneel Lal
