Results for From the Courts

The Court of Appeal second session, which will hear Lord Tu’ivakano's appeal against his conviction is deferred to start on October 19 in Nuku'alofa.

Toio Lauteau (42) was convicted today at the Supreme Court of serious causing bodily harm, when he hit his wife twice on the head with a hammer in ‘Ohonua, ‘Eua. He will be sentenced on November 10.

The Lord Chief Justice has remitted a traffic case to be retried at the lower court, after setting aside a Senior Magistrate’s decision who acquitted a man of obstructing a driver.

Vilimoa Afu (35) was sentenced at the Supreme Court to six-months imprisonment, which was fully suspended, for possession of 0.11 gram of methamphetamine, at Ngele’ia.

Sioeli Tapueluelu was jailed for nine-months imprisonment for possession of 3.37 grams of methamphetamine, at the Supreme Court last week.

Ma’ata Pouono (46) was sentenced today to one-year six-months imprisonment, which was fully suspended, for possession of methamphetamine and bribery of a police officer, at Lapaha in 2018. Police seized the methamphetamine hidden inside a diaper in a rubbish bag at the accused's home as well as $1,366 cash found in her wallet.

An application by ‘Anisi Kulufeinga Bloomfield for leave to appeal against his extradition to Fiji under the Extradition Act was refused by Lord Chief Justice Whitten, in a ruling from the Supreme Court on 2 September. The extraordinary circumstances of the case, and contradictory letters from the Prime Minister, required an affidavit from the Prime Minister to be considered in the ruling.

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.

Manase Tonga (42) received a suspended prison sentence on August 28 at the Supreme Court for possession of cannabis, and also a rifle and ammunition without a licence, in two separate incidents in 2018-19. The court was told the accused had begun selling drugs because his work fixing water pumps at the bottom of the village wells presented health and safety hazards, and caused impairments that made it difficult for him to maintain his family.