Results for From the Courts

Sione Talia'uli, who is currently serving a life sentence for the brutal murder of his four year old son last year, will have a retrial after winning an appeal today on the grounds of miscarriage of justice.

A second Tonga Court of Appeal Session for 2010 began at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court today, October 4, for one week to hear nine appeal cases, including one by a former Minister of Transport, Paul Karalus.

Sione Vaomotou (36) who killed his wife Fotu'aika Vaomotou by stabbing her over 20 times while she was sleeping in May last year, was sentenced to 14 years at Hu'atolitoli Prison on September 15.

Four persons and the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd. who are charged with manslaughter by negligence over the death of a young mother, Vae Fetu'u Taufa, in the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika last year, will appear for the first time at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa on Wednesday, September 8.

Lirong Liu, a Chinese national, pleaded not guilty to seven counts of trafficking persons into Tonga, keeping a brothel and trading in prostitution when he appeared at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court this morning, August 11.

The Supreme Court of Tonga has approved the issuing of death certificates for 50 deceased whose lives were lost in the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika ferry last August.

Sione Vaomotou (36) was acquitted by jurors on a murder charge but found guilty on a lesser charge of the manslaughter of his wife Fotu'aika Vaomotou (25).

Charged with manslaughter by negligence over the death of a young mother, Vae Fetu'u Taufa, in the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika last year, four persons and the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd. appeared before Magistrate Paula Tatafu at the Fasi Magistrate's Court this morning.

Two 17-year-old burglars who escaped from prison have been spared a sentence of six lashes each with a cat or a rod, imposed by a British judge in Tonga last year, after the Court of Appeal set aside the "cruel and unusual punishment", in a judgment released today.