The High Court in Suva has acquitted Akuila Noa of murder charges, concluding that the Prosecution did not meet the required burden of proof. In a ruling issued on December 17, 2025, Justice Thusara Rajasinghe highlighted deficiencies in the State’s case, particularly criticizing the reliability of CCTV identification and DNA evidence presented.
Noa had been charged with the murder of night security guard Vinay Vishaal Prasad, who was fatally attacked on April 21, 2023, in Samabula. The Prosecution’s case included testimonies from 31 witnesses and the introduction of 49 exhibits. However, much of the evidence was circumstantial, relying heavily on CCTV footage and DNA found at the crime scene.
Justice Rajasinghe expressed skepticism about the credibility of the CCTV identification, noting that witnesses based their evaluations on unclear images and vague physical characteristics, which raised concerns about their reliability. Moreover, the judgment pointed to significant shortcomings in the DNA evidence, including questionable custody protocols and discrepancies between the accounts of crime scene investigators and forensic experts. There were also concerns about the accreditation status of the Police Forensic Biology and DNA Laboratory.
The Court observed that the DNA found on various items at the crime scene could have been transferred secondarily, suggesting a potential disconnect between Noa and the evidence. “There is a strong possibility that [another individual] introduced the piece of cloth and flip-flop found at the crime scene,” Justice Rajasinghe noted, thereby indicating reasonable doubt about the presence of Noa’s DNA at the location.
Ultimately, the ruling indicated that the Prosecution failed to establish Noa’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Consequently, Noa was acquitted of all charges. The State has 30 days to decide on appealing this outcome in the Fiji Court of Appeal. This ruling serves as a critical reminder of the essential requirement for credible evidence in legal proceedings, reinforcing the principle that individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.