Court denies application to stay proceedings in conspiracy to assassinate case

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 18 JULY 2022: The Supreme Court has denied the application by two men accused of a conspiracy to assassinate for a stay of proceedings against them.

His Honour Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese delivered his decision against Malele Paulo aka King Faipopo and Lema’i Sione’s application last Friday.

He also made an order for most part of the decision to be suppressed as the main trial of the charges against the applicants is yet to be heard.

“The application for stay has been dismissed and the Court has suppressed its reasons pending further order of the Court in the interests of the Applicants rights to a fair trial,” said His Honour Satiu.

The Applicants are jointly charged with a third party for conspiracy to assassinate former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

The charges were brought in 2018 and Lema’i and Malele have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

The third defendant, Talalelei Pauga, lives in Australia and had been fighting in court the extradition order for him to stand trial with Lema’i and Malele in Samoa.