The High Court in Suva has acquitted Akuila Noa of murder charges, stating that the Prosecution did not meet the necessary burden of proof. In a ruling delivered on December 17, 2025, Justice Thusara Rajasinghe pointed out that critical components of the State’s case, particularly the reliability of CCTV identification and DNA evidence, were questionable and inadequate for a conviction.
Noa faced charges related to the murder of night security guard Vinay Vishaal Prasad, who was tragically killed on April 21, 2023, in Samabula. The Prosecution presented a comprehensive case, calling 31 witnesses and submitting 49 exhibits. However, the bulk of the evidence relied on circumstantial elements such as CCTV footage and DNA collected from the crime scene.
Justice Rajasinghe criticized the credibility of the CCTV identification. The Court noted that witnesses’ assessments based on walking styles and vague facial features lacked reliability due to poor image quality, hindering definitive identification. Additionally, the judgment remarked on significant flaws in the DNA evidence. Concerns were raised about the continuity of custody, inconsistencies between the testimonies of crime scene investigators and forensic experts, and issues regarding the accreditation of the Police Forensic Biology and DNA Laboratory.
The Court further suggested that the DNA identified on items from the scene could have entered through secondary transfer, raising doubts about its connection to Noa. “There is a strong possibility that [another individual] introduced the piece of cloth and flip-flop found at the crime scene,” Justice Rajasinghe commented, indicating reasonable doubt regarding how Noa’s DNA was discovered at the location.
Ultimately, the judgment concluded that the Prosecution had failed to prove Noa’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt. As a result, Noa was found not guilty and acquitted of the charges. The State now has 30 days to decide whether to appeal the ruling in the Fiji Court of Appeal. This decision sheds light on the importance of credible evidence in securing convictions, underscoring the principle of presumption of innocence until proven guilty.