Husband acquitted of wife's murder [1]
Tuesday, November 24, 2015 - 17:20. Updated on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 - 18:10.
Lokoua Taufahema, who was found not guilty of murdering his wife who died from severe burns in December 2014, will be sentenced on a lesser charge of manslaughter on 18 December.
On Monday, 23 November a jury acquitted Taufahema of murder after a week of trial at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.
He had already pleaded guilty to manslaughter and will be sentenced by Mr Justice Cato next month on 18 December.
The horrific incident took place on a Friday night December 26, 2014 at their home in Navutoka on the western side of Tongatapu where he poured hot cooking oil on his wife Halaevalu.
The victim, who was rushed to Vaiola Hospital by relatives, died from severe burns to her body the following day on December 27, 2014.