By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 19 August 2025: The murder trial of prominent Samoan poet and writer, Papalii Sia Figiel started yesterday with police calling 4 witnesses.

Papalii is facing 6 charges which includes murder, manslaughter, grievous bodily harm, and two of being armed with a dangerous weapon namely a knife and hammer.

As a police witness described the photos showing the condition of the deceased’s body, Papalii started crying and the Judge adjourned proceedings for 10 minutes so counsel could attend to her client.

Background to incident
According to a police report, the deceased, Sinavaiana Dr. Caroline Gabbard resided at Siusega but was at Papalii ‘s house at Vaivase on 24 May 2024 where her maimed body was found three days later.

After the alleged attack on the deceased, Papalii used the deceased’s car to travel and stay overnight at a Vavau Beach Fale.

On Saturday 25 May 2024, Papalii left Vavau and went to visit a relative at Lotofaga and stayed overnight.

On Sunday 26 May 2025, Papalii told her relative about the incident and the police were then notified.

Deceased body found 3 days later
The first witness, Corporal Peter Fuimaono who took photos at the scene of the crime described the scene when he arrived.

He submitted three photo booklets from the crime scene, the deceased’s body at the morgue and the deceased’s car, and he took four photos each of the same scene from different angles.

The first booklet described the state of the deceased’s body, where and how it was found and the surrounding area where the incident happened.

“There was a black plastic trash paper nailed to the bathroom door and when I opened it the body was on the floor in a deteriorated state,” said Fuimaono.

As Fuimaono described the photos in the second booklet which showed the deceased’s body condition, Papalii started crying and Justice Fepuleai Ameperosa Roma adjourned the proceedings for 10 minutes so counsel Unasa Iuni Sapolu could attend to her client.

When the court resumed, Corporal Fuimaono said all the photos were taken on 26 May 2024 after police were informed and Papalii arrested.

Vavau Beach Fale staff concern over Papalii’s state of mind
After the incident on Friday 24 May 2024, Papalii arrived at Vavau Beach Fales at about 6:00pm and the only remaining staff on the ground was Mita’i Liliau.

He gave evidence that Papalii arrived and asked to spend the night at one of the beach fales, but he refused because there was no electricity and no beds but Papalii insisted to let her stay.

Mita’i then called Losalosi Malologa Tu’u who looks after the beach fales who also asked Mitai not to let Papalii stay.

In the end, Papalii was allowed to stay overnight without electricity, and Mita’i stayed with her because “she was afraid.”

“I woke up around 5:00am and Papalii was gone but her car was still parked outside, so I went looking for her; I followed her footprints on the sand but still she was nowhere to be found,” said Mita’i.

He notified Losalosi and together they went looking for Papalii. They also looked at a neighbouring place but could not find her.

Losalosi told the court they met three young children and asked if they saw a woman, but the children said no, but told them how their dog was barking loudly at something and Losalosi and Mita’i followed the children and the dog.

“I did not see Papalii, but I saw only someone’s feet protruding out of the rocks, and when I reached it, I saw her lying on the rocks with her face covered by laugapāpā leaves,” said Losalosi.

He gently massaged her forehead and shoulder and slowly nudged her awake.

“She asked me to give her two hours just to lay there but I would not allow it because I do not want to be blamed for something that may have happened to her,” said Losalosi.

They then walked back together to the beach and Papalii told Losalosi that she could not leave because her car had died on her, but when Losalosi turned it on, it worked and Papalii then left.

On 27 May 2025, Losalosi met Papalii again, only this time she was accompanied by two police officers.

When asked if he knew why the police and Papalii returned to Vavau Beach Fales, he said “they came to find a bag which was found on the rocks where she (Papalii) was lying on Saturday morning.”

Deceased’s cousin emotional testimony
The deceased’s cousin, Koreti Wulf gave evidence that they tried contacting Sinavaiana in the weekend but there was no response from her two phones.

They even went to her house at Siusega but found that the house remained untouched in the weekend, she then called the hospital to see if there was any traffic accident reported to the hospital but was told no.

It was after calling the police on Monday 27 May 2025 that she and family were asked to come to the police station.

“The deputy commissioner said they were trying to locate any of the deceased’s family but were relieved when I called,” said Wulf.

She could not hold back tears as she relayed the information given to her at the police station and later when she went to the morgue to identify the deceased’s body.

She told the court the horrible scene she witnessed at the morgue.

“She (Sinavaiana) was in a terrible state (tulaga mata’utia),” said Wulf.

When asked if the deceased have any friends and whether she lives alone at Siusega, Wulf said she never questioned the deceased’s friends.

Asked how long the deceased had been in Samoa, Wulf did not know but she knew she was here to research and write about Tupua Tamasese.

Wulf was the police’s fourth witness and the case continues today.