15 Apr 2010

Fiji judge overturns assessors' ruling in murder case

3:13 pm on 15 April 2010

A Fiji High Court judge has jailed a man on murder charges after overturning a not guilty decision by the court's assessors.

The Fiji Times reports Justice Paul Madigan as saying he couldn't agree with the three assessors in the trial of Jack Anthony Fraser for the murder of Nadi jeweller, Kamlesh Narandass Nanda, on September the 18th 2006.

The judge says Fraser had admitted carrying out the killing for a payment of 20,000 US dollars.

He says to take the life of another for money is a tragedy of the utmost gravity.

Fraser will serve a minimum of 16 years before he is eligible for parole.