Witness saw accused PR outside Shoreline [1]
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 - 20:29. Updated on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 - 16:37.
Sione Ma'ake Siola'a, a brother of one of the victims who died in the Shoreline fire, told the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court today, that he stood with 'Isileli Pulu outside the Shoreline Building on November 16, 2006.
The witness confirmed that his brother was Samisoni Siola'a, one of the eight people who died in the fire.
On the 11th day of the jury trial of 'Isileli Pulu and two co-accused on charges related to deaths in the Shoreline building fire, the witness said he went with his brother to see what was happeing.
He said on November 16 he was driving his taxi to the Vaiola Hospital area. As he drove back to town he picked up his brother at Mailetaha and continued down Taufa'ahau Road.
"When we got to the Shoreline Building it was being smashed. I then drove and parked at the JM Supermarket on the turnoff to the Teufaiva Stadium."
The witness said he go out with his brother to go and see what was happening. They went and stood in front of the fence at the Seventh Day Adventist Mangaia School, opposite Shoreline, together with a lot of other people.
"While standing there I noticed 'Isileli was standing there too, at this time items were being thrown down from the upper floor of the building, which were computers, phones and papers.
"The only thing I noticed 'Isi doing was that he was holding his phone and was pressing on it. At this time there was already considerable damage done to Shoreline with the rows of glass windows in front of the building smashed," the witness said.
Smoke from upper floor
He said a police officer then came up to 'Isileli and asked him if he could speak to the people and ask them to stop.
"I didn...t hear 'Isileli say anything but I told the police officer that it is alright, so he came and stood with us. The reason why I stopped him was because many people were smashing the building and someone might come and hit him," the witness said.
The witness added that while they were watching the destruction of Shoreline someone came up and asked if they could help him push his car that was parked on the roadside at Shoreline.
"While we were pushing the car I noticed smoke coming from the upper floor of the building. I then went to the back of the building to help with the rescuing of people who were being brought down from the upper floor," he said.
The witness could not recall the time when he actually saw the smoke come out from the building.
Brother entered Shoreline
The witness said his brother entered into the Shoreline building through the main entrance, and that was the last time he saw him.
"I did not see him again but he was one of the eight victims who died in the Shoreline fire on that day," the witness confirmed.
In cross examination, the witness confirmed to the counsel for the accused, Clive Edwards, that he did not see 'Isileli Pulu do or say anything while they were standing outside Shoreline.