By Lagi Keresoma/
Apia, Samoa – 01 August 2025: The District Court Senior Judge Talasa Atoa Saaga has dismissed a no-case to answer application by the former Minister of Education, Loau Solamalemalo Keneti Sio.
The motion was against the charges filed by members of Loau’s extended family, Seugamalo Uele Hurrell of Faleula and Australia that stemmed from an incident that happened at Faleula in June 2024 where a family meeting ended in a fight.
According to the motion, Loau believes there should not be a case to answer because the complainants have been found guilty in a separate hearing related to the same incident.
Judge Saaga thought differently and dismissed the application and set the hearing for May 2026.
Loau has pleaded not guilty to several assault charges and his wife and children are separately charged from the same incident and have asked the court for the matter to be heard together with Loau’s case next year.
The court will rule on that today.
The Incident
In June 2024, Seugamalo Ake Uele Hurrell accompanied by his family Justina Muaina Hurrell, Tikeau Uele Hurrell and Tausilenuulelei Hurrell approached Loau who is the family chief, to discuss a longstanding land dispute.
The meeting did not end well and ended in a fight causing injuries to members of both parties.
The dispute escalated when the Hurrell business warehouse and residence were destroyed by a fire and some of Loau’s relatives have been found guilty of arson.
Loau filed a complaint against the Hurrells and the charges ranged from assault, armed with a dangerous weapon, intentional damage to properties and actual bodily harm.
The complaint by Loau against the Hurrell family was heard in December 2024 and the decision delivered 28 April 2025. Apart from Tausilenuulelei Hurrell, all others were found guilty of the offences.
The sentence was supposed to be delivered yesterday but has since been postponed to today.
It is the outcome of this hearing that Loau based his application for a no case to answer against the Hurrell complaints against him.
Judge Leota Raymond Schuster presided over the December 2024 hearing.
With the dismissal of Loau’s application, the Hurrells will have their day in court in May 2026. The charges against Loau include assault and uttering threatening words to which he has already entered a not guilty plea.
