Nineteen-year-old Tupou Vaivai Pole'o Palu of Houma who killed Silivesiteli Tonga'uiha (35) after repeatedly hitting him on the head, was sentenced to life imprisonment on May 10, at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

A jury of seven delivered the guilty verdict before 5pm after deliberating in closed chambers.

Mr Justice Shuster then sentenced the convicted murderer to life imprisonment at Hu'atolitoli Prison effective immediately. The judge told the court that in Tonga there are only two penalties for murder, one is the death sentence and the other is life imprisonment.

This was relayed Palu's counsel 'Ofa Pouono who opted for the life imprisonment sentence for his client. It is understood that the last time Tonga imposed a death sentence was in the 1980's.

During the murder trial that began on May 3 the court was told that Silivesiteli Tonga'uiha was murdered at the Blow Holes at Houma on the night of August 9, 2008 where Palu was drinking alcohol with the deceased, also from Houma, and others.

They got into an argument that resulted in Palu attacking Tonga'uiha and it is alleged that he hit him on the head with first with a bottle and then with a stick.

The victim died from the severe injuries to his head caused by the attack.