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Imprisoned police inspector appeals sentence [1]

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Monday, October 20, 2014 - 18:11

Tonga Court of Appeal, second session. Nuku‘alofa. 20 October 2014

A second session of the Court of Appeal began today and will hear 16 appeals, with a former police inspector appealing his conviction and 11-year imprisonment sentence in Kali Fungavaka's death.

The court will hear nine criminal appeals, six civil cases and one land case. 

Former Tonga Police Inspector Kelepi Hala’ufia, who was convicted of manslaughter in the death of New Zealand police officer Kali Fungavaka in 2012  is appealing against his conviction and 11-year imprisonment imposed on him by a Supreme Court judge earlier this year.

At the same time, Antone Thomas Pedras, an American fugitive who is wanted in California on fraud charges, is appealing against his removal order in a civil case.

The judgement will be delivered on Friday, October 31 at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

Appointments

During the opening session, the Appeal Court's Vice-President Hon Mr Justice Peter Salmon who is assisted by Hon Justice Ken Handley announced the appointment of two new judges. Hon Justice Tevita Tupou and Hon Justice Rodney Hansen of New Zealand will serve on this session..
 
He said Mr Justice Tupou is the first Tongan to hold the appointment on the Court of Appeal. He is a former Minister of Justice, Attorney-General and Solicitor-General. He was also appointed as a Law Lord by the late King George Tupou V.
 
"This is a notable milestone in Tonga’s judicial history, the first Tongan citizen to hold appointment to the court."
Hon Justice Tevita Tupou

Mr Justice Hansen, a former New Zealand High Court judge, was the President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and President of the Legal Research Foundation in New Zealand.

The court also heard the new appointments of ‘Aminiasi Kefu as the Director of Public Prosecutions and Acting Attorney-General, while Sione Sisifa is Acting Solicitor-General.

The first Court of Appeal session was held in March earlier this year.

From left, Hon Vice President Justice Peter Salmon and Hon Justice Rodney Hansen. Tonga Court of Appeal, Nuku‘alofa. 20 October 2014
Tonga Court of Appeal 2014 [2]
Mr Justice Peter Salmon [3]
Lord Tupou [4]
From the Courts [5]

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[1] https://matangitonga.to/2014/10/20/imprisoned-police-inspector-appeals-sentence [2] https://matangitonga.to/tag/tonga-court-appeal-2014?page=1 [3] https://matangitonga.to/tag/mr-justice-peter-salmon?page=1 [4] https://matangitonga.to/tag/lord-tupou?page=1 [5] https://matangitonga.to/topic/courts?page=1