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THE four men and three women jurors selected for the one month long Ashika trial were discharged this morning because one of the male jurors had a criminal record. Justice Robert Shuster told the court, that it was brought to his attention that one member of the jurors had a previous conviction and after discussing with counsels, he decided to discharge the whole jury. He said this was to ensure a fair trial and also to eliminate the possibility of whether discussion or friendship had taken place among them. The registrar was then ordered to call another panel of jury for selection on the morning of Friday February 11 with opening arguments by counsel on Monday, February 14. Conviction The one male juror from Veitongo had a previous conviction in relation to offences during the November 16 riots. It is understood he received a suspended imprisonment sentence at the Supreme Court. The jury selection held on February 7 did not ask whether the potential jurors had a criminal record and they were asked only whether they had any affiliation with any of the defendants and presiding counsels. After a local reporter informed the Crown Prosecutor of the jury member having a criminal record, it was then confirmed yesterday by the court. The jurors selected yesterday were from various communities in Tongatapu.

A jury of three women and four men from Tongatapu was selected this morning in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court to try four men and the SCP charged with manslaughter by negligence in the sinking of the Princess Ashika ferry in 2009, in a trial that is expected to last for a month.

A mother of nine children Ma'ata Latu (56) won a business award on Friday for establishing a small market garden using a microfinance programme on a 25% interest rate. 2011-02-06

Sanyo Wild Knights rugby team won Japan's two most prestigious rugby competitions for 2011 after it beat the Suntory Sungoliath rugby club 28-23 at Tokyo’s Chichibunomiya Stadium on 30 January.

Tonga's new government so urgently needed two bills to be passed to boost the capacity of the Tongan judiciary that the Tongan parliament had to work overtime to pass them on January 14. But nearly a month later the two are still awaiting the king's consent.

The Tongan Cabinet has allocated $1 million from Government's National Emergency Fund to address immediate relief efforts to Ha'apai the island worst hit by Tropical Cyclone Wilma on January 25.

A new Agro Building Complex and a renovated Tu'imatamoana Fish Market should be a booster for the enthusiasm of Tongan growers and fishermen to export more of their produces overseas, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Lord Vaea said at the opening of the complex on the seafront in Nuku'alofa on January 27.

'Inoke Tu'alau Motu'apuaka (60) commonly known as Motu'apuaka of Te'ekiu pleaded not guilty to one count of importing the illicit steroid drugs anabolic and androgenic to Tonga in January last year.

A 60-years-old 'Alaki man who was found dead from gunshot wounds outside his home on Saturday January 29 is believed to have taken his own life, police confirmed yesterday.