American charged with wife's murder in Vava'u [1]
Thursday, September 22, 2016 - 17:38
An American citizen, who remains detained in custody on charges relating to the death of his Canadian wife on a yacht in Neiafu, Vava'u, this year has been charged with murder.
The 54-year-old accused when arrested in July was charged with manslaughter.
The Crown prosecutor's office confirmed today that the charges now include murder.
His case was committed to the Supreme Court on Monday, September 19. He is now expected to appear on Monday, October 10 for arraignment in Neiafu.
Death on yacht
The accused and his 56-year-old wife arrived in Vava’u on their yacht, Sea Oak, on 26 May and docked at the Puatalefusi Harbour.
They had visas to stay in Tonga until 21 August, but the husband on 7 July, reported to police that he found his wife dead on board their yacht.
The woman was buried at 'Ahomatafolau Cemetery in Neiafu on 29 July after a post mortem examination was completed in Nuku'alofa.
Under the Criminal Offences Act of Tonga the crimes of treason and murder can be punished by the death penalty (although in practice, Tonga has not utilised the death penalty for many years, with the last execution in 1982). Convictions for murder are rare, and those convicted may be spared the death penalty and sentenced instead to life imprisonment.