Accused 'Amone denies setting Shoreline on fire [1]
Wednesday, July 9, 2008 - 20:04. Updated on Wednesday, July 29, 2015 - 11:38.
An accused man, Sosefo 'Amone told the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court he did not set on fire a couch inside the Shoreline building during its destruction on November 16, 2006.
'Amone who is charged with eight counts of murder and one count of arson relating to the eight deaths in the Shoreline building gave evidence for the first time on Monday, July 7, on Day 15 of the trial of three accused.
'Amone said that on November 16, 2006 he went to Shoreline to see what was happening. He entered the building to collect phone cards that were scattered inside and he saw fire was already set at the front counter on the ground floor.
The accused said while picking up the cards he noticed another fire rapidly travelling from beside one of the offices. At this time he was not able to breathe well so he got the cards and ran outside through the main entrance.
"I did not set the fire to the couch and the allegation against me is wholly untrue because I did not have a lighter with me," he added.
The accused said he came out and stood in front of the Seventh Day Adventist Mangaia School, opposite the Shoreline building, and watched as smoke came from the building.
PR accused
'Amone added that he never saw the accused People's Representative 'Isileli Pulu while at Shoreline; the first time he saw him was in the late afternoon when he was returning to Pangai Si'i after the incident at Shoreline.
"I did not see 'Isi because there were too many people at Shoreline and I was not there to look for him," he said.
Supported cause
In the cross examination by Crown Prosector Linda Folaumoetu'i today, Tuesday July 8 he said prior to November 16 he was aware of the People's Representatives call for Political Reform.
He was asked whether he knew that the PR's went to many of the villages and held meetings on the issue, he answered he did not know about those meetings but he was aware of the issue because he is an avid reader of the Kele'a newspaper.
"I strongly support the move for political reform," said the accused.
He added that he came with a friend Nifai Tavake and his younger brother from Tatakamotonga to support the cause at Pangai Si'i on the morning of November 16.
He said upon arriving at Pangai they went and stood under a tree at the park and overheard from others that parliament was not going to sit. So he left to eat some curry before returning back just before 2pm.
Angry
The prosecutor put to the accused that wasn't it right that he was angry when he knew parliament was not sitting to discuss the issues they were supporting on this day?
He answered he was happy with the outcome and was satisfied by the decision by the leaders.
The accused confirmed that he followed the people when they moved from Pangai Si'i to the Prime Minister's Office but he went and stood at the Westpac main branch and watched.
He confirmed that as people returned to the park, the damage to the Treasury building began. His friend Nifai was one of those that smashed the glass windows.
"But I did not support the damage he was doing," the accused added.