The last co-defendant to be prosecuted in the conspiracy to murder the former Prime Minister currently the Opposition Leader has had his trial scheduled for March. 

Talalelei Pauga also known as Ninja will be represented by lawyer Unasa Iuni Sapolu and will have an assessor trial starting on 11 March. 

His lawyer and the prosecution confirmed they are ready to proceed to a hearing during a recent call over. 

He is facing a joint charge of conspiracy to murder the veteran M.P. for Lepa, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi in 2019. The Australian national maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to the charge. 

Pauga who is an Australian citizen was successfully extradited in September last year to answer to the outstanding charges against him. He has been fighting his extradition for three years and went through a lengthy legal battle with the Australian authorities. 

His other co-defendants are serving imprisonment terms of up to four years after being found guilty by the Supreme Court for conspiracy to murder.

Co-defendants Malele Paulo also known as King Faipopo, Lemai Faioso Sione and Taualai Leiloa were all jointly charged with one count of conspiracy to murder the veteran politician in 2019. 

Paulo is currently serving four years while Lemai was given a custodial sentence of four years and six months.

Taualai on the other hand pleaded guilty to the charge in 2020 and had almost completed serving his five years jail term and was eligible for parole. 

Evidence before the court stated that the men had planned to murder Tuilaepa at the Siusega Catholic Cathedral in August 2019. 

It was on 16 August 2019 when the matter was reported to the police after the village council of Lauli'i called Taualai to the village fono (council) where he was questioned about the conspiracy.