Results for murder trial

Two of five men pleaded not guilty to the murder of Sione Feimoefiafi (49). While, the others pleaded not guilty and guilty to lesser counts, at the start of the trial at the Supreme Court.

‘Emilio To’a has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Siaosi ‘Okusitino Tupa, who died after being stabbed multiple times with a knife during a drunken brawl at Fangaloto in March, 2018.

Deep incisions on parts of the head and neck were among multiple injuries examined on the victim ‘Ailine Finau, according to a pathologist report presented at the trial of Siosateki Uikelotu Tu’itufu (19) who is charged with her murder. A doctor gave evidence of 32 strikes found on her body.

In an unanimous verdict this afternoon, a jury found ‘Atonio Moeaki (40) guilty of murdering Dr Sione Feo Lau’i (23). He was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Supreme Court judge.

A tearful eyewitness recalled how a nightclub bouncer struck a victim repeatedly with a baseball bat on the head, in evidence presented at a murder trial being heard this week in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

The final submissions by legal counsel in the trial of Sitiveni ‘Esi Muli (17) charged with the murders of a couple, Mr Feng Sheng Pei and Mrs Su Jie Wen was completed today, January 16 at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.

Sitiveni ‘Esi Muli (17) charged with the stabbing murders of Mr Feng Sheng Pei and Mrs Su Jie Wen, denied that he had the intention to commit the murders, when cross-examined by the Crown Prosecutor, at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa today.

Sitiveni ‘Esi Muli (17) today changed his plea to guilty in regards to two alternative counts of manslaughter in relation to the death of a Chinese couple, Mr Feng Sheng Pei and Mrs Su Jie Wen, who were found with multiple stab wounds at a vegetable plantation on February 25, last year. But the Crown Prosecutor was not satisfied and is continuing with the murder charges.