Evidence presented by Crown and defence witnesses was completed today in the trial of Sitiveni ‘Esi Muli (17) charged with the murders of a couple, Mr Feng Sheng Pei and Mrs Su Jie Wen last year.

The couple’s bodies were found with multiple stab wounds on their heads and necks at their vegetable plantation at Matafonua in Lakepa.

The accused was the last witness to be called this morning, after being cross-examined by the Crown Prosecutor ‘Aminiasi Kefu, with a few re-examination questions from his counsel Sifa Tu'utafaiva.

The trial presided over by Hon Mr Justice Cato and a jury will continue to hear final submissions from both counsel tomorrow, Wednesday, January 16.

The judge is expected to give his final summing up of the case on Thursday, January 17 before the seven jurors are released to deliberate on a verdict. 

Accused denies murder intent

The accused has, during his cross-examination by the Prosecutor, retained his stance that he did not intend to murder the couple.

The Prosecutor had put to him that his intention to kill the couple was shown through his actions on February 25, 2018, when he had used scissors and a machete to cause injuries to their bodies. 

The accused denied this.

The Prosecutor again put to him that he had intended to kill the couple because the accused had only hit and stabbed them on their heads and necks as shown by their injuries.

The accused said, no.

“But the only other injuries to the couple's bodies were on the hands, when they must have tried to protect their face and head when you hit them,” put the Prosecutor.

The accused still said, no.

The accused also continued to disagree with the Prosecutor's suggestions that he intended to murder the couple because he had hit them repeatedly, and retained that he did not have the intention to commit the murders.

Held at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa, the trial now in its second week, has heard evidence from five Crown witnesses. The defence had the accused as their only witness.