An American man has been charged with the murder of his wife in Vavaʻu two months ago.
A Tongan court has made the decision on Monday 19 after the accused was previously charged with manslaughter in connection to his wife death on July 11.
He was expected to appear in Neiafu court on October 10, local media reported.
The body of his wife, a 56-year-old Canadian woman, was found dead in a yacht in Vavaʻu in June.
She was later buried at ‘Ahomatafolau Cemetery in Neiafu on July 29.
Tongan authority allowed the funeral services to proceed after a post mortem examination was completed in Nuku’alofa.
The deceased’s husband from Florida, United States, remains in Police custody.
Police had seized and impounded the yacht – the Sea Oak.
The couple arrived in Neiafu on May 26.
While in Vavaʻu they were staying in their yacht and were expected to depart Tonga on August 21.
