For the fourth time District Court Judge Talasa Atoa-Sa’aga has postponed her decision on the conspiracy case against Samoa Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt and five others for another week.
The decision was to be delivered Friday however as reported by the Samoa Observer the judge said there are still parts of the arguments from all lawyers that she needs time to review and base her decision on. “I can’t deliver an incomplete decision,” she said.
“This is not a light matter, as I’ve said this before, it is not easy considering the support and prayers by the families of defendants, the country and of course the defendants themselves.”
She announced that the decision will be adjourned till next Friday and assured that this would be the last adjournment.
Laauli, Fepuleai Faimata Sua, Faataumalama Lio, Lise-Marie Schmidt, Sam Sua, and Sivai Kepi are all facing charges of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, fabricating evidence and defamation.
These charges stem from an investigation into the 2021 hit-and-run death of a student in Vaitele, and involve accusations against Human Rights Protection Party secretary Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi.
