Results for From the Courts

Severe lacerations were examined on the heads of murder victims Mr Feng Sheng Pei and Mrs Su Jie Wen, when their bodies were brought into Vaiola Hospital, on February 25, 2018, according to medical evidence presented at the murder trial of Sitiveni ‘Esi Muli (17) today in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

The Crown in opening its case today in the murder trial of a Chinese couple, Mr Feng Sheng Pei and Mrs Su Jie Wen, who were found with multiple stab wounds at a vegetable plantation last year, submitted that the accused Sitiveni ‘Esi Muli (17) had intended to commit the murders.

Sitiveni ‘Esi Muli (17) today pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including murder in relation to the death of a Chinese couple, Mr Feng Sheng Pei and Mrs Su Jie Wen who were found dead with multiple stab wounds at a bush allotment last year. A co-accused Sami Kaho Jr. (15) will now become a witness for the Crown, after charges against him were dismissed.

A 26-year-old man received a fully suspended sentence after being convicted of drugs, firearm and ammunition charges by the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.

A 29-year-old man was sentenced last Friday 14 December to 2-years and 3-months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis at a tax allotment in Malapo last year. The repeat drug offender was also found guilty of possessing over one kilogram of cannabis.

A 20-year-old man was sentenced to 11-years imprisonment after he broke into a house, abducted a girl at night and committed serious indecent assault on the child, in June this year at Navutoka. Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said the offending was truly abhorrent.

Viliami Mangisi (59) who is charged in the seizure of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of around $2 million pa’anga in May earlier this year, had his case adjourned to January 2019 after appearing at the Fasi Magistrate's Court earlier this week.

Sami Likiliki Fisilau (52) was sentenced to two and a half-years imprisonment after pleading guilty to serious bodily harm and domestic violence committed on his 44-year-old wife in Vaini last year. “Domestic issues are no justification or excuse for violence and domestic abuse will be met with firm penalties," Mr Justice Cato told him.

Pacific Games plaintiffs who are trying to sue the Kingdom of Tonga for multi-million pa'anga damages over its cancelling of the Pacific Games hosting in 2019, have been given leave to amend their claims, after the Chief Justice found their statement of claim was seriously defective. The defendant, the Kingdom of Tonga, had applied to strike out / or stay the plaintiffs claims.