Tonga Court of Appeal 2014 begins [1]
Monday, March 31, 2014 - 22:18
Tonga's first Court of Appeal Session for 2014 began at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court today, 31 March.
Tonga’s Chief Justice, Hon Michael Scott welcomed the three appeal judges Mr Justice Peter Salmon, Mr Justice Sir Peter Blanchard, and Mr Justice Sir Gordon Ward, Tonga's former Chief Justice.
The Chief Justice Scott said Sir Gordon Ward knew very well the bar (law) in Tonga since he was Tonga's Chief Justice from 1992-95, and 1998-04. "He was also Chairman of a Political Reform Commission that led to many reforms passed in 2010. We are grateful that you found time to come back to the court," he said.
Chief Justice Scott said that the second session of the Court of Appeal for 2013 was cancelled late last year due to shortages of staff, but since then the situation has improved. "We now have a new Acting Registrar and Acting Assistant Registrar joining the Supreme Court. I hope this session is the first of two this year as we plan for the second Court of Appeal session in October," he said.
Laki Niu, the President of the Tonga Law Society and the Attorney General Neil Adsett also welcomed the judges, during a short ceremony this morning.
The Court of Appeal will hear 15 appeal cases and their judgments will be delivered on 11 April.
The 15 appeal cases includes nine criminal appeals, four civil and two land cases. Among the criminal cases is an appeal by Sione Vaomotou against a 14-year sentence for manslaughter after killing his wife after stabbing her more then 20 times at Ma’ufanga in 2009.