By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 12 September 2025: Two medical evidence presented in court on the trial of murder accused, Papalii Sia Figiel stated that she suffers from a psychotic disorder.

The evidence were provided by Amituanai Dr. Cecilia Alailima and Dr. Joyce Vida Sonoling.

Amituanai is a relative of Papalii and is aware of her medical history while Dr. Sonoling from Papua New Guinea is a Specialist Psychiatrist with the Ministry of Health at Motootua who reviewed and assessed Papalii’s medical condition.

Amituanai is the family member Papalii visited on Saturday 25 May 2024 after the incident where Dr. Sinavaiana Caroline Gabbard was allegedly murdered at Papalii’s house at Vaivase-uta.

Amituanai informed the Court that whilst she is a medical practitioner, she however is not a psychiatrist although she did train for two years in America but did not finish the 4 years tenure.

She confirmed that Papalii had been admitted to the Queen Emma Medical Centre in Hawaii for mental issues and that she also suffered from other medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes and that she was on medication.

Amituanai said diabetes can have such an impact on a mental person’s condition.

Defence counsel Unasa Iuni Sapolu asked Amituanai whether diabetes can have any impact on a person with mental problems.

Amituanai said it could, but if diabetes is well controlled then it’s okay, but when it is either high or low, then it is out of control.

Amituanai said when she spoke with Papalii on 26 May 2024 at Lotofaga after the incident, she realised that Papalii was not on medication.

Hallucination and delusion
Dr. Sonoling who had reviewed and assessed Papalii three times early this year, confirmed that she suffered from psychotic disorder.

Asked to explain and clarify a psychotic disorder, Dr. Sonoling said it involves a change in a person’s behaviour, hallucination, delusion and disconnection from reality.

“It also affects a person’s mood,” said Dr. Sonoling.

She said there are times when a person acts normal and intelligent, but when under stress, it can create trauma and a person can suddenly “switch-off. ”

Unasa asked if it can affect a person’s reasoning power and Dr. Sonoling said “yes and can be very aggressive when provoked.”

Revelation of the incident 3 days later
Papalii arrived at Amituanai’s house at Lotofaga, late afternoon Saturday 25 May 2024.

“I did not recognise the car but when saw it was Papalii, I was happy to see her,” said Amituanai.

They talked and it was late in the evening that Amituanai invited Papalii to sleep over as it was late.

She also told the court that Papalii “seemed stressed and pre-occupied.”

Early Sunday morning 26 May 2024, Amituanai and her husband were getting ready for church and saw Papalii was already up and she offered her coffee.

“It was then that she said that there was something she wanted to tell me and I sat down and asked her what it was and she said that she had done something bad, terrible,” said Amituanai.

There was a strong emotion coming from her and it made it difficult for her to speak, said Amituanai.

“Did you do something to harm yourself ?” she asked.

Papalii shook her head then started to cry.

“Is anyone hurt?” asked Amituanai.

Papalii then nodded her head and Amituanai asked who the person was, but Papalii would not say.

Amituanai said she asked Papalii then if the person was okay but she said “I do not deserve to say her name.”

It was then that Amituanai looked at the car outside and asked Papalii if the car belonged to the person and she “nodded her head.”

“I asked Sia where the person was, and Sia’s body started to shake, then said at her house at Vaivase-uta, and I asked her again if the person was alive,” said Amituanai.

Defendant was in a suicidal state
“Sia told me that she has been trying to figure out how to kill herself and had thought of driving off the cliff,” said Amituanai.

Warning bells triggered and Amituanai being a doctor for many years, kept the conversation going and told Papalii that she was happy that she was okay. She was still eager to know if the person Papalii mentioned was alright and asked what happened.

“Sia said it was a friend and that they had lunch at her house then she felt a strong swell of anger rising up inside her,” said Amituanai.

“Then Sia said an odd thing by asking me if I knew someone was murdered in her house before.”

Amituanai also told the court that Papalii told her during that conversation that she had not slept for 5 to 10 days.

Journey back to police headquarters.
Understanding the situation then, Amituanai called her nephew who is a lawyer and asked for the process of reporting things to the police.

All this time her phone was on speaker and Papalii was aware of their conversation and the plan set for them to return to Apia.

Before driving back, Amituanai had informed the police to check Papalii’s house at Vaivase-uta if the person Papalii mentioned was still alive and needed help and because the house key was with Papalii, she gave police authority to break down the door.

Defendant walked out of the courtroom in tears 
While Amituanai was recalling her conversation with Papalii at Lotofaga, Sia in tears, stood up, walked to the side door and headed to the other courtroom.

The court orderlies rushed after her and everyone heard Papalii screaming hysterically and crying.

Justice Fepuleai Ameperosa Roma then adjourned the proceedings to allow the defence counsel to attend to the defendant.

The trial continues with the defence witnesses today.