A 50-year-old man who was in remand for one year seven months has been discharged due to his mental state by Suva High Court Judge Justice Daniel Goundar.

Solomone Vakalalabure had pleaded guilty to the charge of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Justice Goundar stated that this was an exceptional case considering that Vakalalabure was suffering from mental illness during the time of the offence.

He stated that Vakalalabure got annoyed by his brother who was having a conversation with him and he took a cane knife and struck his 47 year old brother on the head however the brother was able to overpower him and escape.

Justice Goundar said that the brother had sustained a head injury due to the attack.

The incident occurred on 5th March last year in Naitasiri.