A high-profile court case between Samoa police and six defendants linked to an unresolved 2021 hit-and-run incident—that killed a university student—ended abruptly when the defense decided not to present any evidence.
According to Talamua News Online, two former Members of Parliament, a terminated Police Inspector, and three others, were on a five-week trial for conspiracy and defamation charges and were due to take the stand Wednesday.
Police witnesses, including the Police Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, the superintendent—who headed the investigation into the hit-and-run incident—and 76 other witnesses were originally scheduled to give evidence.
However, more than 50 of those witnesses did not take the stand after the police key witness, Marie Tusi, recanted her original written statement given to the police.
The main complainant, Human Rights Protection Party Secretary Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi—who was named by one of the defendants as the person who drove the vehicle which caused the student’s death—took the stand and denied all accusations against him.
The defendants are: Laauli Leuatea Polataivao, Fepuleai Faimata Su’a, Marie Schmidt, Samuelu Su’a, Sivai Kepi, and Lio Faataumalama.
Judge Talasa Atoa Saaga has set September 5 as the deadline for final submissions. Closing arguments are scheduled for October 6.
