Lam appears in District Court for traffic offence

The man accused for murdering his wife, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Unit Trust of Samoa (U.T.O.S.), Sau Justina Sau, has appeared in the District Court this week for an unrelated traffic offence.  

Kolani Junior Lam was called before Judge Talasa Atoa Saaga for a traffic offence that dates back to February 2014. 

According to a police report Lam did not appear when the matter was called in 2014. 

The Court at the time then ordered a warrant of arrest which was recently executed when Lam was remanded in custody for charges of murder and other offences in the Supreme Court. 

Lam was asked if he was ready to enter his plea or wishes to find a lawyer to represent him. In response he said he has a lawyer but that they were not present in Court. 

Prosecutor Sergeant Khamtahn Stanley said the matter was stood down from the last adjournment to allow the defendant time to contact his counsel. 

Stanley then asked if the matter could be adjourned for the final time. 

Judge Atoa granted the request and asked Lam to appear again on 20 August. 

Lam’s hearing is scheduled on 30 September set down for two weeks. 

The delay for the trial follows the matter entering a Court of Appeal in early September. 

The defendant has been denied bail twice and the Court turned over an application to have his trial proceed without a panel of assessors. 

He faces a murder charge, alternative charges of manslaughter, common assault in respect of his step daughter, possession of narcotics and conspiracy to defeat the cause of justice.