Home-brew thieves jailed for killing elderly man [1]
Monday, March 22, 2004 - 16:45. Updated on Monday, May 5, 2014 - 11:34.
Six young men were found guilty at the Supreme Court, Pangai, Ha'apai, on charges relating to the death of a 67-year-old man at Nomuka on 18 April 2003.
The death of the old man resulted from a brawl with the young men who went to the home of the elderly man to get some home-brew.
The jury found Sepesi Fukofuka and Talitu'i Lepakupu guilty of manslaughter, house breaking, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery, and they were sentenced by Chief Justice Gordon Ward to each serve four and a half years in jail.
The other four young men, Paea Tauelangi, Vili Malau, Vili Moala, Mefi Pau'u, were found guilty on charges of house breaking, robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery and were each sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment.
The four-day trial by jury ran from March 11 to 16, was presided over by Chief Justice Ward. The counsel for the Crown was 'Aminiasi Kefu and for the defendent was Masao Paasi.