An innocent man would have loudly protested his innocense rather than try to commit suicide.

These were the words of state lawyer and Assistant DPP Lee Burney in his opening remarks to assessors in the trial of Australian couple, Yvette Dianne Nikolic and John Geoffrey Nikolic before High Court Judge Justice Daniel Goundar today.

Burney says when the couple bought a lavish yacht and named it Shenanigan, perhaps it was an inside joke to the couple who on the outside led a lavish life but on the inside they led a life of evil.

He says Fiji Revenue and Customs officers had asked to inspect the yacht and found the large quantity of drugs and arms, they found 10 blocks of cocaine in a bag. Burney says John Nikolic had taken sole responsibility of the drugs at that time and had asked to visit the bathroom after which he wanted to speak to his wife. He says when he had spoken to his wife he collapsed beside her.

Burney told the assessors that doctors who were called to the scene had discovered he had allegedly overdosed on drugs. He says Nikolic later denied all allegations against him.

The Australian couple is facing charges after drugs, arms and ammunition were found on their yacht the Shenanigan at Port Denarau Marina in Nadi on the 22nd of June last year.

The couple are jointly charged with two counts of possession of illicit drugs,  one count of possession of arms and ammunition without a licence and two counts of unlawful importation of illicit drugs. The couple have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

It is alleged that the couple had imported 12.9 kilograms of cocaine and  34.4 grams of methamphetamine with an estimated value of between $20 to $30 million.

It is also alleged that they failed to declare that they had in their possession two pistols with 112 rounds of live ammunition.

The trial continues.