By Lagi Keresoma/
Apia, Samoa – 25 June 2025 – The high-profile court case between police and six defendants relating to the unresolved hit and run incident that killed a university student 21 April 2021, ended abruptly this afternoon when defence decided not to give evidence.
Two former Members of Parliament, a terminated Police Inspector and three others were on a five-week trial for conspiracy and defamation charges and were to take the stand this afternoon.
Police witnesses had been on the stand for the past four weeks including the Police Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, the superintendent who headed the investigation into the hit and run incident and others from 76 witnesses police originally scheduled to give evidence.
However, over 50 of those witnesses did not take the stand after the police key witness, Marie Tusi turned against her written statement given the police.
The main complainant, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi who was linked to the death of the student in the hit and run incident, took the stand on Tuesday and denied all accusations against him.
The prosecution’s last witness, Poufa Ah Sio, gave evidence via video link from Australia today when court resumed at 2.00pm.
The defence lawyers; KC Richard Marchant for Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao, Fepuleai Faimata Su’a and Marie Schmidt; Kathrine Dalziel for Samuelu Su’a and his wife Sivai Kepi and Maposua Tanya Toailoa for Lio Faataumalama Auava then submitted that their clients were not giving evidence.
No reasons were given and brought the 4-week long trial to an end.
Judge Talasa Saaga Atoa then worked out a timetable for counsels to submit their final submissions. Prosecutor Leinafo Taimalelagi Strickland asked for 4 weeks while all defence counsels will count their 4 weeks from the day they receive the Prosecutor’s submission.
Judge Saaga has given 5 September for all submissions to be finalised and to be presented before the court on 6 October 2025.
Judge Saaga acknowledged and thanked everyone involved in the trial and families and supporters who frequented the court in the past 5 weeks; then called it a day.
