'Emilio To’a this morning changed his plea to guilty to an alternative charge of manslaughter in the death of Siaosi ‘Okusitino Tupa, who died after being stabbed multiple times with a knife during a drunken brawl at Fangaloto in March, 2018.

On May 6, at the start of his jury trial at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa, the accused had pleaded not guilty to murder and alternative counts of manslaughter and grievous bodily harm.

However, after evidence was presented last week and before closing from counsel this morning, May 13 the accused indicated his intention to plead for manslaughter.

The Crown accepted the plea and withdrew the murder charge.

To'a will then be sentenced for manslaughter on June 10, at the Supreme Court.

The Court heard, the offence occured on a Sunday morning, March 4.

The accused who was 21-years-old at the time was drinking alcohol with Tupa (24) and his de facto partner, 'Ana. While drinking, an argument arose between Tupa and 'Ana. To'a decided to join the argument, when he got two knives from the kitchen at the house they were drinking at.

The court was told that he had used one of the knives and stabbed Tupa on the neck and other parts of his body, causing severe blood loss leading tothe victim’s death.