Katei Taufa (31), who stabbed his wife to death in Vaini on February 21, was sentenced to life imprisonment today at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

A jury of seven men from the villages of Nukunuku and Te'ekiu delivered the guilty verdict around midday after an hour of deliberation in closed chambers.

Chief Justice Anthony Ford then sentenced the convicted murderer to life imprisonment at Hu'atolitoli Prison, effective today.

The Chief Justice said that in Tonga there are two penalties for murder, one is the death sentence by hanging and the other is life imprisonment. It is understood that the last time Tonga imposed the death sentence was in the 1980's.

Taufa (31) of Longoteme, first appeared in the Nuku'alofa Supreme on Monday, September 7, charged with the murder of Fononga Taufa (22), a mother of three. He pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.

During the five-day trial the Crown Prosecution proved their case that on February 21 in a drunken rage Katei stabbed his wife with a kitchen knife. She died the same day.

Katei confessed to stabbing his wife in a police record of interview two days after the murder.

Crown Prosecutor was Solicitor General 'Aminiasi Kefu, and Sifa Tu'utafaiva represented the accused.