Guilty verdict in second 16/11 group trial [1]
Wednesday, December 5, 2007 - 22:28. Updated on Tuesday, July 21, 2015 - 16:16.
A jury found a group of six 16/11 rioters guilty on 17 charges at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court this morning.
A seventh accused, a woman, was found guilty on only one charge.
The six men and one woman were the second group facing 16/11 charges to be tried by a jury in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.
The six men Siuta Ngahe of Pea, Timote Pekipaki of Vaini, Mekiloni Fotu of Navutoka, Nikolasi Fiu of Hofoa, Fiula 'Atuhekaho of Ma'ufanga, and Tavake Tafolo of Halaleva were found guilty on a total of 17 charges, ranging from attending a riotous assembly to housebreaking, and the damaging and the destruction of government and private properties.
Among properties that were either destroyed or damaged were Molisi Tonga Supermarket, the Treasury, Parliament House, the Nuku'alofa Magistrate's and Supreme Courts, O.G. Sanft Building, Mark's Repair Shop, Island Mobile and the Golden Star Restaurant, all located in central Nuku'alofa.
Taufa Tafolo, the niece of Tavake, was found guilty on only one charge of attending a riotous meeting.
The jurors of six men and one woman took about two hours of deliberation this morning to reach their verdict.
Chief Justice Anthony Ford discharged the jury after hearing their verdict and then adjourned his sentencing of the seven accused to February 8, 2008. He ordered a probation report on each to be provided.
The trial began on November 12 and the Crown Prosecutor was 'Aminiasi Kefu. 'Ofa Pouono was the legal counsel for Siuta Ngahe and Mana Kaufusi represented the other six accused.
Last month a first group of people accused of 16/11 crimes was found not guilty by a jury.