By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 20 August 2025: The cautious statement police took of murder accused Papalii Sia Figel, was done against her wish.

This came out in the evidence of Senior Sergeant Maatusi Lelefu and Constable Steven Tonumaipe’a during cross examination by defence counsel Unasa Iuni Sapolu.

During the second day of the trial, Unasa raised the defendant’s right to silence which she clearly spelled out to the police when she was informed of her right to engage a lawyer and her right to make a statement.

Maatusi who conducted the interview said Papalii was informed of her right to engage a lawyer and her right to make a statement.

“And she said no to both a lawyer and a statement, is that correct?” asked Unasa.

“Yes” Maatusi replied.

“Yet you went ahead and conducted the interview and provided a statement, isn’t that so,” asked Unasa.

“Yes,” said Maatusi.

Unasa then asked the witness to describe the state the defendant was in during the interview, and he confirmed that the defendant was sad and there were tears in her eyes.

Asked if they stopped the interview at any time and gave the defendant a break, Maatusi said “no because it was flowing well.”

Present during the interview was Constable Tonumaipe’a who was also one of the police officers who went to the crime scene.

He told the court that Papalii made it clear to the police that she did not want to engage a lawyer nor made a statement when she was interviewed for the alleged attack on the late Sinavaiana Dr. Caroline Gabbard.

Both officers confirmed that Papalii said “I killed her” then declined both rights to a lawyer and the right to make a statement, however, they continued to interview her.

Constable Tonumaipe’a said after the statement was made, they gave it to Papalii to read, they also read it back to Papalii and clarified the reason for the statement.

Presiding Justice Fepuleai Ameperosa Roma asked Constable Tonumaipe’a why the statement was read back to Papalii after she had read it.

The witness said it was for clarification.

Justice Roma then asked why there was no record or information on the document that the statement was read by the defendant, was read back to her and that it was clarified to the defendant again.

Constable Tonumaipe’a said because it was done after the interview.

“It is the common practise of police to note all things that took place during the interview at the end of the statement, is not that the process,” asked Justice Roma.

Constable Tonumaipe’a agreed.

Constable Tonumaipea’s account of the crime scene
He said Papalii’s cousins Cecilia and Sia came to the police station on Sunday, 26 May 2025 and after speaking with Criminal Investigative Division (CID), a team was dispatched to Papalii’s house at Vaivase.

He said Cecilia had to guide them through the house and directed them to where a safe was located.

They noted a small knife on the table by the door, lots of materials on the floor and a hammer on the table beside the safe.

“We removed the safe and noted 4 black trash bags nailed to the door frame, and we smelt a very strong odour coming from inside the bathroom,” he said.

The body was put inside a body bag then went to the morgue where more photos were taken of the deceased’s body.

Defendant described as kind, an inspiration and mentor
Frank Lafaitele, a 19-year-old member of the national orchestra choir lived at Papalii’s house at Vaivase for 2 months.

His grandmother and Papalii are good friends and being a violinist and pianist, Papalii engaged him to assist with some of her gigs and performances at her Galumoana Theatre.

He described Papalii as a very kind woman, very comfortable to be with, she encourages and pushes him on.

Asked if he had ever seen Papalii in an angry situation, Frank said “no”.

Asked if he saw any medicine around the house and he said there was insulin for Papalii’s diabetic situation.

His arrangement with Papalii is that the house key is placed under a rock beside the door for him, but on Friday 24 May 2024, he could not find the key when he returned to the house.

He said the last time he saw Papalii was that Friday morning before he went off for rehearsal for a concert on Saturday.

However, when he returned home later in the evening, the house was locked and there was no key under the rock, so he went to his home.

Saturday morning, he returned to Papalii’s house but was still locked and he never saw Papalii again until he heard of the incident.

The case continues.