Two former police officers who are in jail for common assault, after they punched and kicked a defenceless 21-year-old in Vava’u, will not be allowed to appeal their sentences. President of the Appeal Court, Lord Chief Justice Whitten, in his ruling on 12 December rejected their applications, as they had no reasonable prospects of success.
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Results for Lord Chief Justice Whiitten
Thursday 22 December 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Thursday 8 September 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Six new judges have been appointed to Tonga's Court of Appeal. The increase is to ensure availability for each session.
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Thursday 4 August 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kaluseti Holani (22) was sentenced to four-years eight-months imprisonment for several offences, including causing serious bodily harm, when he discharged a firearm injuring two young men, at Afa in January this year. The Lord Chief Justice said the accused was fortunate not to have been charged with attempted murder. Even though a complaint had been filed to Mu'a police, the same rifle was used in this second incident. There were no attempts by the police to resolve the issues.
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Thursday 21 July 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Bruno Latu (27) was sentenced to 27-months imprisonment for offences that included possession of a pistol without a license and 1.72 grams of methamphetamine.
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Thursday 26 August 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sioeli Tapueluelu (37) was sentenced today to 12-years imprisonment for manslaughter in the death of a 27-year-old, whom he punched and hit on the head with a wok frying pan. “His history and senseless outburst of violence in this case, resulting in the death of an innocent young man, make him a serious danger to society, which this Court must strive to protect,” said Lord Chief Justice Whitten. He called the defendant’s savage attack “a gutless act of cowardice in initiating the assault.”
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Friday 30 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siosaia Tu Maile (20) was sentenced yesterday to eight-years imprisonment for the manslaughter death of Ned Cook (67), the Salvation Army Team Leader in Nuku'alofa in 2020, who was punched in the face when he was walking home from an evening out. "In that split second of senseless brutality, one life was ended and the liberty of another must now be severely curtailed," said the Chief Justice. He noted that in Tonga, some in the community tend to resort to violence to address any annoyance, no matter how small. “This case must serve to deter others from such behaviour, which will be met with severe sentences from the Courts.”
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