10-years jail sentence cut in half [1]
Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 18:15. Updated on Monday, May 12, 2014 - 09:38.
A 10-year jail sentence for manslaughter imposed on Nakita Folau Tu'itavake (41) was reduced to half by Tonga's Court of Appeal today.
Tu'itavake (41) was to have served eight years followed by two years suspended, after a jury in February found him guilty of the manslaughter of Semisi Ma'u, who was stabbed to death in the parking lot of the Billfish Bar, Nuku'alofa, on September 5, 2003.
In announcing its decisions today, the Court of Appeal accepted Tu'itavake 's appeal for a reduced sentence and gave him a sentence of five years imprisonment with the last two years to be suspended.
Tu'itavake was represented by Laki Niu.