A total of 147 Tupou College students and four adults who have been charged in relation to a violent attack on a home in Tofoa on July 18, are expected to appear at the Nuku’alofa Magistrate’s Court on October 7-10 .

The Deputy Police Commissioner ‘Unga Fa’aoa said the Magistrate ordered the accused to appear in separate groups of around 40 each over the set dates.

“By then I would have the papers ready for submission to the Magistrate for the case to be committed for trial at the Supreme Court. All of the accused are on bail until these dates,” he said.

The accused are similarly charged with conspiracy to commit willful damage and unlawful assembly. Some students have been variously charged with trespassing, housebreaking and grevious bodily harm, while one was charged with atttempted arson.

The four adults, who include a Tupou College teacher, two bus drivers and a truck driver, have been charged with aiding the damage.

Victim

Meanwhile, the 22-year-old victim Taniela Halahuni (22) a Tonga College ex-student who sustained severe head injuries from the attack remains in a critical condition at Vaiola Hospital.

“I have been told that he is still critical but there has been a slight improvement with some body movement,” said the Deputy Police Commissioner.