Tonga's Court of Appeal Session began at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on 8 April with a new judge and will hear 10 cases, including two rape cases.

Hon. Sir Peter Blanchard of New Zealand joins Mr Justice Peter Salmon and Mr Justice Ken Handley for this session that will end on Wednesday 17 April, with the delivery of judgements.

Mr Justice Blanchard was welcomed to the Court of Appeal Tonga's Chief Justice Hon. Michael Scott, the Attorney General Neil Adsett and Laki Niu the President of the Tonga Law Society.

Appeals

Of the 10 cases being heard are three land cases, four civil, two criminal and one family matter regarding an adoption.

The two criminal appeals are rape cases, in which the convicted offenders Sione Malakai Uhi and Filimone Hefa are appealing against sentences and conviction imposed by a former Supreme Court judge, Robert Shuster.

Uhi is appealing against conviction and sentence of six-years imprisonment, and Hefa is appealing against sentence only for imprisonment of 13-years for rape.