Eyewitness scared when he saw couple dying [1]
Thursday, January 10, 2019 - 21:39
The trial against Sitiveni ‘Esi Muli (17) charged with the murders of a Chinese couple, Mr Feng Sheng Pei and Mrs Su Jie Wen, who were found with multiple stab wounds at a vegetable plantation in February last year, continued today with the evidence of an eyewitness.
Sami Kaho Jr (15) this morning appeared before Hon Mr Justice Cato and a jury at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa, as the first of the Crown's nine witnesses.
In the evidence in chief led by the Prosecutor ‘Aminiasi Kefu, Kaho said on the morning of February 25, 2018 he went with the accused Muli to the Chinese couple's vegetable plantation at Matafonua in Lakepa to steal their vehicle, which he said was the accused's idea.
During questioning, Kaho explained and at times was asked to demonstrate to the judge and jury what he allegedly saw, that the accused during an altercation with Mr Pei, hit him on the head with a machete and then stabbed him on the neck with scissors multiple times.
Kaho also gave evidence, that the accused then committed the same offences to Mrs Wen who was crying and apologizing in Tongan, when she ran to her husband who was already lying on the ground.
The accused then told him to get inside the vehicle and they fled the scene. The accused had also taken Mr Pei's mobile phone and money, said Kaho.
The Prosecutor then asked him, why he did not stop the accused or speak out for him to stop.
Kaho answered that he was too scared and this was the first time he saw this, people dying. He also said that the location was in the bush area, when asked if he ever thought about running to get help.
Kaho’s evidence in chief continued before he was cross-examined by defence counsel Sifa Tu’utafaiva in the afternoon.
The trial continues on Friday, January 11.
After initially being charged with the accused, Kaho had the charges against him dismissed by the Crown and agreed to become their witness.