The accused People's Representative, 'Isileli Pulu cried in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court this morning when he told a jury that his nephew 'Iteni Kauvaka was one of the eight people who died in the Shoreline fire on November 16, 2006.

'Isileli said he was deeply saddened and distraught by what had happened.

Pulu, is on trial charged with eight counts of abetment to murder and one charge of abetment to arson relating to the eight deaths that resulted from the fire set at Shoreline on November 16.

The Crown Prosecutor asked the accused if it was true that he waved his hand forward and directed the people to Shoreline to smash and burn it down.

The accused answered "no,." He making such an action to incite others, as alleged.

"I was not present at the smashing of the Molisi Tonga Supermarket, and when I arrived at Shoreline and the Ramanlal Hotel [Pacific Royale] they were already damaged," said the witness.

The prosecutor asked the accused if he visited and took food to those that were arrested and detained in police custody for crimes relating to the destruction on November 16.

The witness cried again when he answered that he went to the Nukunuku Police station to visit and take food for his son who was arrested and alleged to have torched one of the buildings, but he had been acquitted of those charges.

The counsel asked the witness if the reason he took the food to prison was to show his appreciation to those people who damaged Nuku'alofa on November 16.

The accused answered that was far from the truth. He said he was aware others were being kept there and it was normal to share food with them, and his wife prepared a lot of food which they also gave to some of the police officers.

The accused appeared as the first witness for the defence as the jury trial continues in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court. Clive Edwards is the counsel for the defence of Pulu