Woman accused of stabbing at Mataki'eua [1]
Friday, September 18, 2009 - 19:40. Updated on Friday, August 22, 2014 - 10:35.
A 28-year-old woman 'Ilaisaane Kaho pleaded not guilty this morning to the murder of a 39-year-old woman at Mataki'eua, Tongatapu in April this year.
Appearing in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court, the accused of Mataki'eua, pleaded not guilty to the first charge of murder; and pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of manslaughter.
She is alleged to have stabbed Lesieli 'Okusi on her chest with a knife causing her death on April 18.
A Pre Trial Conference is set for October 7 to determine whether the Crown Prosecution accepts her plea. Meanwhile, Sifa Tu'utafaiva the counsel for the accused elected for a jury trial, expected to run for one week at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Anthony Ford presided with 'Aminiasi Kefu the Solicitor General as Crown Prosecutor.