Man convicted of arson of vehicle [1]
Tuesday, October 30, 2018 - 17:47
Siosaia Latu was found guilty of serious arson of a motor vehicle valued at $16,000 pa’anga at a home in Havelu in November 2015, after a fight earlier that day.
Hon. Mr Justice Cato in a verdict on October 16, found that the accused, who was 17 at the time, assisted an uncle to set fire to this van. The judge rejected his evidence that he was a mere spectator.
He also accepted evidence from a witness evidence that the accused had told his uncle Oki (who had not been located by police) merely to burn the vehicle, and thus had given knowing encouragement to Oki to burn the vehicle, although he did not do it himself.
The court heard the accused and Samipeni Latu (a witness) who was an occupant of the house where the vehicle was set on fire, had been fighting on November 28 at Havelu and in another incident in downtown Nuku'alofa.
"The accused who had been in a fight earlier with an occupant of the house, was still so angry about what had happened on that morning and later that day, that he beyond any reasonable doubt gave knowing encouragement to, and so did aid and abet Oki to commit serious arson."
In addition, the court heard from a witness that Oki had taken a cardboard box from the accused and used that and a box to light and throw into the van before they ran away.
Pakiaola Latu who lived at the home in Havelu, said she had woken up in her home to find her family's van was on fire at about 3:00am
The fire brigade came and the vehicle had been destroyed by fire, she said.
The accused is remanded in custody for sentencing at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court.