Two murder accomplices deported to Tonga [1]
Monday, March 28, 2016 - 12:44. Updated on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 - 09:54.
Two Tongan nationals, brothers John and Motekiai Taufahema, have been deported to Tonga from Australia after serving 11 years in an Australian jail for their involvement in the murder of New South Wales policeman Glenn McEnally in 2002.
On March 27, 2002, the 26 year-old Senior Constable was shot three times after pulling over a stolen vehicle in Sydney's east, and died from his gun wounds a week later.
The Taufahema brothers were two of four men present in the stolen vehicle (along with Sione Penisini and Meli Lagi). Motekiai, who was the driver, was initially convicted of murder but had his conviction downsized to manslaughter in 2007. The constable was shot by another Tongan national in the car, Sione Penisini who shot him once in the head and twice in the chest.
According to 9News on March 26 the brothers had been released on parole to be deported.
Motekiai is believed to be already in Tonga after he was reportedly deported on the same day. His brother was to soon follow.
The others, Sione Penisini is serving a minimum of 25 years, while Meli Lagi is serving a 13 year sentence.
The McEnally family have denounced the sentences of the Australian court as being too lenient. Constable McEnally’s father stated in 2006, "This defies any sort of logic, I just can't work it out – what value do they put on his life?"