Attorney General Appeals Reinstated Police Officer’s Conviction

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 08 FEBRUARY 2022: The Attorney General has appealed the conviction of police officer Khamtahn Stanley and Lomalasi Laufili on the charge of manslaughter.

Both defendants were acquitted in December last year and Khamtahn was reinstated as a police officer last month.

Counsel Shane Wulf appeared on behalf of prosecutor Leifano Taimalelagi yesterday and asked for a week’s adjournment to finalize their submission.

The adjournment was granted and the matter will be re-mentioned on the 21 February 2022.

Both men were defendants in a case that involved the death of a man from Vaiusu village two years ago and both were originally charged with murder and was later reduced to manslaughter.

After several preliminary hearings, the matter was finally heard before District Court Judge Leota Raymond Schuster who acquitted both defendants.

That ruling is the basis of the Attorney General’s appeal.