Prominent Samoan Author Charged with Murder

Staff Reporters/

Apia, SAMOA – 28 May 2024 – A prominent Samoan author, poet and playwright is in police custody and charged with the murder of a 78 year old woman last Saturday.

Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo said the incident happened at Vaivase-uta and the accused is also charged with being armed with a dangerous weapon.

Police have charged the award-winning playwright Papalii Sia Figiel, 57, and have upgraded the charge from manslaughter to murder of 78-year-old Caroline Sinavaiana Gabbard.

Auapaau said police suspect there was an argument between the accused and the deceased that somehow escalated and resulted in the accused allegedly using a sharp object to assault the deceased.

The accused then left the house at Vaivase that is also home to the GaluMoana Theatre and went to a friend’s house who later informed the police.

The deceased, Dr. Caroline Sinavaiana-Gabbard was an American Samoan academic, writer, poet, and environmentalist who taught at the University of Hawaii and the American Samoa Community College. She retired a few years ago and was the first Samoan to become a full professor in the United States.

Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo