The final submissions by legal counsel in the trial of Sitiveni ‘Esi Muli (17) charged with the murders of a couple, Mr Feng Sheng Pei and Mrs Su Jie Wen was completed today, January 16 at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.

Hon Mr Justice Cato will sum up the case and make direction on the law to a jury on Thursday morning, January 17 before the jury is released to deliberate on a verdict.

The murder trial, which began last week at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa, nears the end after a total of six witnesses gave evidence. The witnesses included five for the Crown and one (the accused) for the defence.

Crown Prosecutor ‘Aminiasi Kefu and defence counsel Sifa Tu’utafaiva made final submissions on their cases to the judge and the jury of seven members.

The court had heard on February 25, 2018 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 retained his not guilty plea to the murders after changing his plea to guilty on alternative counts of manslaughter just before the trial started.

The Prosecutor who was not satisfied with his guilty plea to manslaughter proceeded with the murder trial, presenting the Crown's case that the accused had the intention to murder the couple.

The accused had on the other hand denied that he had the intention to commit the murders, during his evidence in Court.