Police key witness Marie Tusi released to go home

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 13 June 2025 – After one year under police protection, key witness in the high-profile court case where six people are standing trial for conspiracy, defamation, perverting the course of justice and other charges has been released to go home.

Marie Tusi has been a hostile police witness when under cross examination last Wednesday afternoon, she denied her statement the police relied on in the charges against the accused.

It resulted in the court working overtime as arrangements were made to move the witness from police protection to another location.

Police relied on her evidence where she denied being with the accused Samuelu Sua on the night of the hit and run accident at Vaitele that killed a university student Tuuau Maletino on 21 April 2021.

Continuing her evidence on Thursday, she also revealed police had added information to her statement and all she did was sign the statement.

When court resumed on Friday, prosecutor Leinafo Taimalelagi Strickland applied to the judge for more time to re-evaluate the charges and witnesses in the case after their key witness Marie Tusi changed her evidence.

District Court Judge Talasa Atoa Saaga then adjourned the proceedings early until tomorrow (Tuesday).

The defense legal team (l-r) Muriel Lui, KC Richard Marchant, Kathryn Dalziel and Maposua Tanya Toailoa.

After prosecution’s re-cross examination on Thursday, Marie maintained her stance confirming that she was with Samuelu (Sam) Su’a at Vaitele on 21 April 2021 and both witnessed the accident that killed university student Tu’uau Maletino.

Marie’s original evidence not only confirmed but supported Sam’s evidence then later, denied it in a statement prepared by police Inspector Salale Salale in 2024.

Taimalelagi unsuccessfully tried to re-connect Marie to her statement prepared by Salale then asked for two adjournments to sort out their position.

The defendants in the trial are Faatuatua i le Atua Sama ua tasi (FAST) party leader Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt, former Member of Parliament Fepuleai Faimata Su’a, terminated Police Inspector Lio Faataumalama Auava, the couple Samuelu Sua and his wife Sivai Kepi and Lise Schmidt.

The five week trial resumes tomorrow.