Teenage Murder Suspect Confessed, “Freed” and Turned Crown Law Witness: Day 3 ^Featured

Thursday, 10 January 2019 13:43
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Day 3: Crown Law Star Witness Delayed; Prosecutor Still Seeks Murder Charges
Prosecutor, Judge Cato Final Instructions to Jurors: Ignore the Media
By Sione A. Mokofisi – Editor, Times of Tonga

Nuku‘alofa: January 09, 2018 — High expectations to see and hear the Crown’s star witness, Semi Kaho, Jr. take the witness stand at the Supreme Court did not happen today. We all filed into the Supreme Courtroom #3 after 2:00 PM but one member of the jury fell ill, which caused Justice Cato to shorten the third day session.

Scheduled witnesses to take the stand for the prosecution were postponed until tomorrow. Justice Cato, however, allowed Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu’s opening statement to proceed.

Legal maneuvers by the defense made technical changes regarding their pleas, but Crown Law is still seeking two murder counts, plus armed robbery and destroying transportation property against Sitiveni ‘Esi Muli. Crown Law gave its Opening Statement to the jury focusing on proving that the accused had “intention to murder” before and during the killing of Chinese guest immigrants Sujie Wen and Fengsheng Pei on February 25, 2018.

IGNORE THE MEDIA: PROSECUTOR

While instructing the jury on their civil duties to judge the proceedings of the trial, AG Kefu cautioned the seven-member tribunal to ignore the media. He reminded them that the media were not eye-witnesses at the crime, and their reports are often second-hand information clouded with disinformation details.

“Do not let anyone tell you that they have the truth,” AG Kefu spoke in Tonga while the translator interpreted for Justice Cato. The latter also gave his own cautionary instructions to the jury.

“Do not contact anyone, do not listen to anyone else who might claim to have knowledge of what transpired on February 25, 2018, at the victims’ farm,” Kefu continued. “We will present witnesses, evidences, and our best legal preparations to seek justice for Sujie Wen and Fengsheng Pei. There are only two eye witnesses to the crime who are still alive: the accused and Semi Kaho, Jr.

“We will present him tomorrow because we believe his version of what took place. They went to the farm of Sujie Wen and Fengsheng Pei with intentions to steal their vehicle, and when they were discovered the accused had intentions to murder the victims,” Kefu continued.

He described briefly what the prosecution will present in the next few days: photos of the murdered victims for the jury to view; weapons used in the killings; the only witness who is alive to the killing besides the accused; medical doctors to explain in details the meaning of the wounds delivered to the victims; followed by his summation to end the prosecution case.

The defense lawyer will also get his time to present the accused version of what took place, said AG Kefu. But he admonished the jury that the weight of justice rests on their shoulders to judge the proceedings based entirely on the testimonies and evidences.

END DAY 3…