A jury has found Lord Tu’iha’ateiho not guilty of five charges regarding three separate incidents at Ha’ateiho last year in a verdict on Wednesday, January 25 at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court. 

The charges included trespassing, possession of ammunition without a license, unlawful imprisonment, discharging a firearm within boundaries of a town and killing swine. The Crown withdrew a sixth count of public disturbance.

The incidents were said to have taken place in April to May.

On 15 April, it was alleged that the noble who is a current Ha’apai Noble’s Representative to Parliament had gone to the New Millennium Motors site at Ha’ateiho, with the firearm and unlawfully detained a watchman ‘Uluakimano Lokotui.

The court also heard on 20 April he was alleged to have shot two pigs, discharging the firearm in a public area. This led to a complaint filed and police executed a search warrant at his home in Ha'ateiho on 4 May, where the alleged ammunition was found. 

However, after the seven jurors heard the evidence from about 10 witnesses during the trial before Lord Chief Justice Paulsen, they found the noble not guilty of all charges, and acquitted him.