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Friday
13 April 2000
Justice
Wilson confirmed verdict of Assessors.The trial of the Century in
Samoa comes to end. Thursday
12 April 2000
Justice
Wilson received further submissions from defence counsellors
Wednesday
11 April 2000
Assessors
delivered a GUILTY VERDICT for both Leafa Vitale and Toi Aukuso Tuesday
11 April 2000
Summing
up by Justice Wilson was completed today. Transcripts for Monday and
Tuesday not yet released. Have been by advised court officials that
these transcripts should be ready by end of Wednesday. Monday
10 April 2000
Summing
up by Justice Wilson continued today on the key issues of the evidence
presented to the trial. Transcript was not released today.
Friday
7 April 2000
Justice
Wilson continued his summary of the prosecution witnesses up to the last
one, witness number 62. He spent sometime on the analysis of the evidence
given the witnesses. Before adjourning the proceedings, Justice Wilson
made an order to keep all the assessors together as from Sunday
evening, 9 April 2000.He also ordered that
proper provision be made for preventing the assessors from holding
communication with anyone on the subject of the trial. The summing up by
Justice Wilson will continue into Monday 10 April 2000. See the transcript
for more details.
Thursday
6 April 2000
Justice
Wilson started his summing up of the trial for the assessors. After
walking the assessors on the important legal issues which the assessors
must take into consideration, Justice Wilson then went through each
witness to describe the pertinent points of their evidence. By the end of
the day,Justice Wilson had got to witness number 50
who was Superintendent Salapo Faaopopo Matamu. See the transcript for more
details.
Monday
3 April 2000
Aeau
Semi Epati gave his final submission today. There will be closed court
proceedings on Tuesday at 1pm which is closed to the public and media.
Justice Wilson is expected to give his summing up on Thursday and possibly
also Friday this week. See transcript for details of Epati's submission.
Friday
31 March 2000
Toailoa
completed his final submission today.The Judge in setting the programme
for next week said" that,
an Act of God or an Act of Nature aside, this will be the program for next
week: Monday at 9 o'clock, counsel Mr Epati to address you for such of the
day as he requires.On Thursday at 9.30, I expect to commence my summing-up. I expect to
take the best part of two days. So you should not expect, gentlemen, to be
free from this case until late next week at the earliest, or over the
weekend - that is to say, not this weekend but next weekend - nor even
early into the next week if you should require a lot of time for the
consideration of your verdicts." See the transcript for more details.
Thursday
30 March 2000
Mr
Raftery concluded today this final submission for the prosecution. Raftery
compared Base Tuimalealii fano to Pinnochio in his submission.Toailoa for
the Leafa defence team also made a dramatic start for his final submission
in the afternoon when he took a long pause before he started his
submission. (See transcript for full details)
Wednesday
29 March 2000
Prosecuting counsel
Mr Raftery gives final submission. The court transcript posted is
incomplete as the diskette is corrupt. We will remedy the problem asap.
Tuesday
28 March 2000
No
court proceedings today. Should resume tomorrow.
Monday
27 March 2000
No
court proceedings today.
Friday
24 March 2000
Pauline
Cain and Dr Tuitama, the last witnesses for the defence of Toi took the
stand today.
The trial will not be continuing
on Monday next. On Tuesday next,
the counsel's addresses, will commence with the prosecutor's address followed by Mr
Toailoa's address on behalf of his client, followed by Mr Epati's
address on behalf of his client. Counsels' addresses will occupy
most of next week. Then will follow some legal discussion, which will take place just before next
weekend, or immediately after next weekend. Justice Wilson expects to commence
his summing-up on Tuesday, 4 April, that is Tuesday-week. See
transcript for more details.
Thursday
23 March 2000
The
cross examination of Toi by Raftery continues for the whole day. See the
transcript for more details.
Wednesday
22 March 2000
The
defence for Toi Aukuso started today with the defence lawyer, Epati made
his opening statement before announcing his intention to call Toi Aukuso,
Pauline Cain, Carolyn Lafi, Dr Tuitama and Dr Elisaia. Most the day was
taken up by Toi Aukuso's evidence and cross examination by Toailoa and
Raftery. See details in court transcript.
Tuesday
21 March 2000
After
Pasikale ,the last witness of the defence of Leafa Vitale,
Fiavivini
Aliivaa,
gave evidence today. The court proceedings were held only in the morning
today after the cross examination of Fiavivini Aliivaa. The defence lawyer
for Toi Aukuso will be asked tomorrow whether they will be calling
any witnesses. See the transcripts for more details.
Monday
20 March 2000
Cross
examinations started with Base Tuimalealiifano, Leafa Vitale's
teaboy cum DJ at the Penisula, followed by Eseta Eteni Teo, Leafa Vitale's
daughter in law and lastly by Pasikale, Leafa Vitale's son. See the
transcripts for more details.
Friday
17 March 2000
Amy
Leafa Treviranus was cross-examined for most of the day. Cross examination
of Base Tuimalealiifano started in late afternoon and is now to be
completed on Monday 20 March 2000.
Thursday
16 March 2000
Cross
examination of Leafa by the prosecution was completed today. The court
proceedings today ended as Leafa alluded to a political conspiracy which
he will outline in his statement to be made on Friday.See the court
proceedings for more details.
Wednesday
15 March 2000
Cross
examination of Leafa Vitale continues throughout the day. See transcript
for more details
Tuesday
14 March 2000
Today's
court proceedings centred around the second day of Leafa Vitale in the
witness stand. Leafa continues to deny any allegations against him linking
him to the murder of Hon. Luagalau. The prosecution lawyer, Raftery was
cross-examining Leafa for the whole day. See the transcripts for more
details.
Monday
13 March 2000
The
defence lawyer for Leafa Vitale, Toailoa, announced that he intended to
call to six people to the witness stand ( Leafa Vitale, Amy Teo Treviranus, Pasikale
Leafa, Fiavivini Aliivaa, Eseta Te'o; and Base Tuiletufuga).Leafa
Vitale then took the stand for the whole day. He has denied all the
statements made by the witnesses of the prosecution including the
statement made by Toi. Leafa Vitale will again take the stand tomorrow
(Tuesday). See the transcript for the details)
Friday
10 March 2000
No
court proceedings today.
Thursday
9 March 2000
Part
of proceedings
closed to public
Wednesday
8 March 2000
Proceedings
closed to public
Tuesday
7 March 2000
Court
proceedings today had Francis Brebner, a former Treasury officer who
testified about Leafa Vitale brandishing an assault rifle at a board
meeting of the Electric Power Corp (EPC) late 1997. Mohammad Stanley of
the EPC Board also gave a similar account of the incident in 1997
Monday
6 March 2000
No
proceedings today
Tuesday
8 February 2000
Today's
court proceedings centred around the cross-examination of Eneliko Visesio
by the defence counsel on some of the conflicting evidence of Eneliko
Visesio given to the Police since he was first interviewed by the Police.
more details are in today's court transcript
Monday
7 February 2000
Eneliko
Visesio, orginally dubbed as "Mr E" in the previous court
proceedings gave evidence today after the name suppression order was
revoked by the court. Eneliko Visesio told the court how he was asked by
Toi Aukuso to carry out the killing. Eneliko Visesio also told the court
how and why he backed out of the plan to shoot the Prime Minister,
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and the late Minster of Works,Hon Luagalau
Levaula Kamu. The details are now in today's court transcript.
Wednesday
2 February 2000
Evidence
by the
witnesses today focused today on the movements of a Mr "E" and
Toi Aukuso. The court will resume again next Monday. Details are in
today's transcripts.
Tuesday
1 February 2000
The
court today heard more details on the items found by the Police at a
cattle farm and the office of Leafa Vitale at the Government Complex.
There was an early adjournment of the trial today. More details in the
court transcripts.
Monday
31 January 2000
A
fine morning in Apia. The court started at 9:30am.The witnesses today
included Sulu Aniseko, the wife of Leafa Vitale's driver who recounted how
she helped with the safe custody of the gun given to her husband by Leafa
Vitale. Elisa Ulia, the former secretary of Leafa Vitale also gave
evidence that she was not aware of Aniseko Aitu's trips to Malie to get
Aletise Vitale on 19 July 1999. Police officers who searched the office of
Leafa Vitale at the Government complex immediately after Leafa Vitale's
arrest also gave evidence of their findings.
Friday
28 January 2000
Aniseko
was the only witness today. He was cross examined by the defence counsel,
Solomona Toailoa throughout the whole day as Aniseko Aitu explained how he
had provided new information to the court since the police took his
previous statements. The new evidence relate to Aniseko's movements
immediately prior to the murder of Hon Luagalau Levaula Kamu.
Thursday
27 January 2000
The
court resumed this afternoon. Aniseko Aitu was again the only witness to
take the stand today. Questioning by the prosecution and defence counsels
have been on the events immediately before and after 16 July 1999.
Identification of the gun which Aniseko delivered to Aletise from
Leafa was made. Aniseko is again to take the stand tomorrow (Friday).The
details are in today's court transcript.
Wednesday
26 January 2000
Aniseko
Aitu, Leafa Vitale's driver, was the only witness today. He recounted his
movements up to 2pm Friday,16 July 1999, before the defence counsel for
Leafa, Solomona Toailoa, was granted his request to postpone the
trial till the next day, 27 January 2000.
Tuesday
25 January 2000
A
fine sunny day. The court today centred around the witness of three local
police who were involved in the investigation of the crime scene.
Towards the end of the day, Aniseko Aitu, the driver of Leafa Vitale
gave witness for the prosecution. Aniseko Aitu's evidence will continue on
Wednesday, tomorrow. See the court transcripts for the details.
Monday
24 January 2000
A
fine clear day.After the court was advised of the non-arrival of the
exhibits for the prosecution, witnesses were called in by the prosecution.
These witnesses included those who saw Aletise on Friday evening 16 July
1999 before Luagalau was shot. A key witness today was the niece of
Aletise who was staying with Aletise and his wife Tili at Malie during the
week of the murder of Luagalau. Refer to the transcripts for details.
Friday
21 January 2000
A
rainy day again in Apia. The witnesses today centred around the tracing of
the alleged gunman's path from the St Joseph's Hall to the Don Bosco
compound, Sinamoga kiwi bridge, down the Sinamoga ford, Alamagoto towards Vaimea. The
witnesses included a shopkeeper by the Sinamoga ford and the boys who
chased the gunman at Alamagoto only to run away when the gunman turned a
gun against them.
The court transcripts
of yesterday and today have now been posted on this site under the
section"court transcripts"Have a pleasant weekend.
Thursday
20 January 2000
The
proceedings today, centred around the witnesses who were outside of the St
Joseph's Hall just before and after Hon. Luagalau Levaula Kamu was shot.
The witnesses saw a person wearing a baseball cap with a bag just before
and after the incident. Whilst there was initial wrong identification of
the gun man by both Niko Toovalaau and Tommy Peseta immediately after the
incident at the Police station, these two were able to correct the
situation when they were given photos.
Samoalive
has received a number of requests for a detailed report on the court
proceedings. Therefore our team has obtained permission to post on this site
selected daily transcripts on the trial so that each visitor interested in the
details could do their own analysis. The transcripts for the first 3
days of the court proceedings are now posted in the section "Court
Transcripts".
Wednesday
19 January 2000
Heavy
rains again temporarily stopped the court proceedings
late morning. The witnesses for the prosecution today included a second
member of the RSA Band, Melvin Solomona and Don Jo Fepuleai, the private
secretary of the late Minister Luagalau who accompanied the wounded Minister to
hospital after he was shot. A TVSamoa camera man who covered the HRPP
function at the St Joseph's Hall for the local news also gave his
recollection what happened. From the hospital Dr Aisoli Vaai and
Vaasilifiti Faleniu also gave their medical accounts of the case when
Luagalau was brought into the National Hospital at Motootua. At the end of
the day a witness who was training in the grounds next to the St
Joseph's Hall late Friday evening on 16 July 1999 told the court that he
saw a person outside the Hall before the murder.
The local public who have mainly stayed away from the trial so far are
likely to take more interest in watching the proceedings when the
confessed gunman Alatise Leafa Vitale and the alleged hitman hired by Toi
Aukuso are called to the witness stand.
Tuesday
18 January 2000
The
first witness for the prosecution, Hon Tuala Sale Tagaloa, gave a detailed account
today of the events during the preparation and co-hosting with the late
Luagalau Levaula Kamu of the 20th birthday celebration of the HRPP
party, at the St Joseph's Hall. When crossed examined by the defense
counsel for Leafa,Solomona Toailoa, Hon Tuala Sale Tagaloa explained the
background to the lease and proposed extension of the lease relating to
the land on which the Penisula club belonging to Leafa Vitale's family was
located. When crossed examined by the defense counsel for Toi Aukuso, Aeau
Semi Epati, Hon Tuala Sale Tagaloa also clarified and light heartedly
dismissed an alleged move by Toi Aukuso to nominate the late Luagalau
Levaula Kamu as Deputy PM. (Samoalive has compiled a background on
Hon.Tuala Sale Tagaloa in the section on the Background of the Case.)
The other two witnesses who appeared
today included the niece of the late Luagalau Levaula Kamu who talked to
the late Minister seconds before he was shot ; and Savea a member of the
RSA band who was standing close by to the late Minister when he was shot.
Security is still very tight at the court. Dress code of the public has
also been strictly policed. Photos today show the Police tent and a shot
of the TVNZ team trying to put a story together outside the court.
Monday
17 January 2000
Poor Acoustics Disrupts Court Proceedings
The proceedings today had to be temporarily stopped because
of the poor acoustics of the CCS Youth Hall when it rained. After
the swearing in of the assessors, the Counsel for the prosecution, Brenda
Heather gave account of the events leading to the murder. An estimated crowd of at least 100 persons were in
the gallery.
Brenda Heather advised the court of the Government witnesses which will include
the Minister of Lands and Environment,Hon Tuala Sale; niece of the
late Luagalau,Sina; members of the RSA band; the TVSamoa camera man; and
overseas forensic experts. A hitman allegedly hired by Toi Aukuso is also
likely to appear as witness against the two former Ministers.
Photos today of the court and St Josephs College entrance are
in the photo/video page
Sunday
16 January 2000
Courts Say No to TVSamoa
The application by TVSamoa to the courts to film the trial of the 2 former
Cabinet Ministers has not been allowed. Therefore there are no chances for
a live telecast of the trial which a number of people were anticipating.
Members of the media have been allowed to take into court only their
notebooks and pens for the trial, The court is expected to be packed
to capacity in the first few weeks as the evidence unfolds of the trial.
Samoalive has a set up a special section on to track the developments of
the trial.
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