Chinese murder accused fronts Court

Four men, including two brothers, accused of perpetrating an allegedly fatal armed robbery at Vaitele that resulted in the death of a Chinese national, appeared in Court on Monday. 

Gogosina Leilua, Tafi Samuelu, Kome Sioeli and Mikaele Leilua appeared before Justice Leiataualesa Daryl Clarke at the Supreme Court for their alleged role in the robbery.

Gogosina, who is the younger brother of Mikaele, is charged for the murder of Mr. Cao. 

He is alleged to have stabbed the Chinese national to death on 12 October.

Mr. Cao's widow wept inside the Supreme Court throughout the criminal mention. 

She was supported by other Chinese nationals who said they were asking for answers to their case. 

His older brother, Mikaele, and Samuelu are accused of a lesser charge of burglary by entering Pacific Trades Limited without authority and with the intent to commit a crime. 

Siolei is facing charges of attempted murder of Jun Li of China and Vaitele. 

The four men are in their 20s. 

The prosecutor and Attorney General’s Office lawyer, Fuifui Ioane, sought an adjournment to allow police to finalise the charges against the defendants. 

Justice Leiataualesa granted the request for the matter to be called again on December 2 2019. 

He also reminded the defendants that given the gravity of the alleged offending against them they are to remain in custody. 

“Given the seriousness of the charges against you [accused] you should engage counsel, and if you cannot afford counsel you can apply for legal aid,” he added. 

At the time of the alleged incident, Police Commissioner Fuiavailiili Egon Keil said the men were suspected to have attempted to seize a quantity of cash believed to have been stored at the company’s premises in what was a targeted attack.