A 28-year-old woman has been charged with the murder of a woman following an incident in Mataki'eua last weekend - the fourth murder charge in Tonga this year, confirmed Deputy Police Commander Taniela Faletau today.

The charge relates to the death of a 39-year-old woman on the evening of Saturday, April 18. The death resulted from a fight between the two women who are married to two brothers.

The Deputy Commander said the accused is married to the younger brother while the deceased was married to the older one.

Details of the incident could not be released now, but the accused had appeared in the Nuku'alofa Magistrate's Court on Monday, April 20 and was ordered to remain in police custody.

Fourth incident

Faletau confirmed that this was the fourth murder charge in Tonga this year. The first was in Vaini on February 21, where a 30-year-old man was charged with the murder of a 22-year-old woman.

The second incident was in 'Uiha, Ha'apai where a 20 year old man was charged with the murder of a 33-year-old woman on April 1. Followed by a third one in Neiafu, Vava'u where a 22-year-old man was charged with the murder of a 47-year-old.