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Five people found dead Bedford home Perth suspected murder

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Tim Rose, Cassandra Bain, 9news.au.com

Women and children are among five people found dead inside a Perth home, the third mass tragedy to rock Western Australia this year.

Homicide detectives went to the home on Coode Street in Bedford today after a man in his 20s handed himself into a regional police station.

WA Police Assistant Commissioner Paul Steel said “up to five” people were found dead, including women and children.

“This is a tragic event and it will no doubt have an impact not only on the family and friends of the deceased but for the whole of the community and those first responders who are faced with attending a scene of multiple deceased people,” he said.

He added police were still examining the home for evidence and could not provide further details on the victims.

9NEWS understands at least three young children are among the dead.

The man who attended the regional police station is now in custody and there are no ongoing concerns for public safety.

Neighbours expressed their shock this afternoon as the heavy police presence remained on the suburban street.

“It’s just really sad that something like this can happen in such a quiet neighbourhood, it’s horrid on every level … poor children,” resident Maria Manfredini said.

Locals said children were often seen playing in the front yard of the home.

“Yeah pretty upset, I have two kids myself and when something happens too close it’s really distressing,” Wagner D’Souza said.

The deaths follow the murder of a mother and her two children in Ellenbrook in July, and the Margaret River mass shooting that left seven people dead in May.

“It is a tragic thing when incidents like this occur,” Asst Comm. Steel said.

“It does send a ripple through the community of Western Australia.”

MP Jenny Salesa breaks down while her first Kava honour is performed

By
Kalino Latu
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The Tongan Member of Parliament in New Zealand MP Jenny Lātū Salesa broke down in tears while a Tongan honour was performed for her in South Auckland on Friday.

The honour is known in Tongan as Kava Mo e Hā’unga or Kava or Hā’unga, one of the highest honours given to a person who has succeeded in a profession.

It was performed for her by the Stutton Park School in Māngere.

The honour was a combination of presenting a kava plant and a puaka toho (big hog) as well as speeches made by two matāpules (heralds).

MP Salesa said she had not been given such an honour since she was elected as an MP and made a Cabinet Minister.

She said when the school children performed the kava and presented her hā’unga she could not compose her emotions and she broke down in tears.

MP Salesa said she admired the opportunity in Aotearoa for Tongans to perform and present their own cultural activities.

MP Salesa’s honour was presented as part of the Tongan Language Week at the Stutton Park school.

She said Tongans in New Zealand should support the language week because it was an important way to preserve and sustain the Tongan culture.

She was also marveled at the large number of Tongan students who attended Stutton.

She said she was told by the principal that more than 50 percent of the students at Stutton were Tongans.

She said the topic of this year’s Tongan Language Week was “’Oku fakakoloa ‘e he Tonga’ ‘a ‘Aotealoa ‘aki ‘a e ‘Ofa Fonua.”

“Tongans enhance Aotearoa with Love of Nation”

She said she loved two countries, New Zealand and Tonga.

She said she valued and appreciated the wearing of the Tongan formal attire and the performance of various cultural activities such as tau’olunga last week because the children learned better when they performed them.

MP Salesa told Kaniva News the number of Tongans in New Zealand was increasing and the support given to Tongan Language Week should be encouraged.

Emotion overwhelms student as Stutton wins school competition during Tongan Language Week

By
Kalino Latu
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A student who was about to make a speech in Tongan during the  Auckland Primary school speech competitions could not make her speech because she was overwhelmed with emotion.

‘Ofa Leha of Oranga school came to the microphone in front of about 100 people at the Stutton Park School hall on Thursday before she broke down in tears.

Attempts to relieve the year five girl were unsuccessful and the organisers of the competition had to lead her back to her seat.

Students from Stutton Park School won the competition for Year 5 and Year 6 held as part of Tongan Language Week.

‘Ofa Leha broke down in tears. Photo/Kalino Lātū

Stutton students ‘Ilaisaane Fainga won the Year 6 speech competition and ‘Ōkusi Kātoa, also from Stutton, won the Year 5 competition.

The first and second runners up in year 5 were Manako Lutui of Otahuhu Primary School and Anthony Mauala from Sutton Park School.

The first and second runners up in the 6 Year students were Lesieli Afimeimo’unga from Flatbush Primary School, and Matekitonga ‘Aloua from Papatoetoe West School.

The winning competitors were awarded with trophies.

All competitors were awarded a silver medal.

Parents, supporters and teachers were seen smiling while taking photos with the winning competitors.

Uaniva Havea, who travelled from Sydney to be one of the three judges, applauded the students’ Tongan speech skills. Havea joined Kaniva Tonga editor Kalino Latu and Mangere College teacher ‘Alisi Tatafu on the judging panel.

Havea told the audience she was surprised at the fluency and clarity of the pronunciation of the students when they spoke.

Havea also said she was emotional when she saw the Tongan attires worn by the children.

The speakers spoke on the topic of the Tongan Language Week which was “’ “’Oku Fakakoloa ‘e he Tonga’ ‘a ‘Aotealoa ‘aki ‘a e ‘Ofa Fonua.”

The students were judged on how they introduced their speech in the Tongan way of fakatapu, their opinions and what they could give as an advice for their listeners about the topic.

Tongan Language Week started on Sunday 2 and will feature a number of closing events tonight, including the Miss Tau’olunga Faka-Tonga 2018, which is sponsored by Henderson Cars at the Ellerslie Event Centre.

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https://kanivatonga.co.nz/2018/07/henderson-woos-community-with-cultural-connection-sponsors-miss-tauolunga-2018/

National Retirement Fund to buy 15% stake in Tonga Development Bank

By
Philip Cass
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The National Retirement Benefit Fund will buy a 15% stake in the Tonga Development Bank.

The Fund will take up unsubscribed bank shares.

Dr Leimoni Taufu’i, from the National Retirement Board Fund, said that by the end of June this year, six years after it began operating,  the fund had accumulated TOP$48 million. A total of TOP$2.2 million has been paid to pensioners, retired employees, employees who relocated to overseas countries and those who quit jobs on medical grounds.

In 2017/18 the fund has generated an interest of $1.44 million and it was distributed to all members.

The organisation had registered 12, 778 members by June 30 this year.

The Minister of Finance, Hon Dr Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa, said the purchase was approved at a meeting of the Fund’s only shareholder, the Tongan Government.

The meeting also voted for the Tonga Development Bank (Amendment Bill) 2018 to be submitted to Cabinet and the Legislative Assembly.

The amendments mean the Bank is no longer subject to the Public Enterprises Act.

Responsibility for the Bank will now lie with the Ministry of Finance.

Other changes include restructuring of the capital base of the Bank, changes in administration and expansion of services.

Hon Tu’i’onetoa said the restructuring would enable the Bank to expand its customer base and improve its services to its customers, people of Tonga and benefits to the shareholders.

Court rejects request for injunction on assets from former business partner

By
Philip Cass
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The Supreme Court has turned down an application for an injunction over the assets of a tourism business in Vava’u.

Leisa Marie Francis applied for an injunction against her former partner Lolesio Susitiano Lui.

The parties had a whale watching and sports fishing business at Vava’u.  In July  2017 they separated and in October 2017 the plaintiff returned to Australia with their children.

In his report on the case Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said Francis alleged she had a verbal partnership agreement with Lui to operate the whale watching and sports fishing business and that she paid for all the major assets of the business including four boats, a trailer and fishing gear.

She further alleged that the partnership agreement was terminated by the defendant and that she was entitled to the return of her contributions to the partnership namely  the  boats,  trailer  and  fishing  gear.   She also claimed damages for the set up costs of the business and a substantial sum she said she spent to renovate a house.

Francis asked for an order prohibiting Lui from disposing or otherwise dealing with the partnership assets (the boats, trailer etc) and that  he  be  required  to  keep  them safe and fully  insured  pending further order of the  Court.

She also asked that the Police be required to regularly inspect and report on the assets and that her former partner  be required to provide reports  on  the  business  to  an  accountant nominated by the plaintiff.

The judge said Francis had failed to make out the grounds for issuing an injunction.

“I am prepared  to  accept for present purposes   that  the   plaintiff   has  established   a substantive claim and that there are assets in the jurisdiction to which orders can apply,” he said.

“However, there is a lack of evidence of any real or substantial risk that the defendant may dissipate those assets and the indications are that he intends to continue to retain the assets to operate the business.

“ The plaintiffs affidavit  is extremely  brief and does not contain  the sort of detail that one  would  expect to  be  provided  detailing the  matters that show a risk of dissipation  of   the assets. She says that she wants to stop the defendant from disposing of the assets but not why she considers that there is a risk that he may do so.”

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said he would therefore refuse an application for an ex parte injunction.

However, he said he was prepared to deal with the  application  for  injunction  on  notice.

“I direct that the plaintiff is to serve the defendant with the proceedings along with this ruling and the application for injunction and supporting documents  forthwith.”

The main points

  • The Supreme Court has turned down an application for an injunction over the assets of a tourism business in Vava’u.
  • Leisa Marie Francis applied for an injunction against her former partner Lolesio Susitiano Lui,
  • The parties had a whale watching and  sports fishing  business  at Vava’u.  In  July  2017 they separated and in October 2017 the plaintiff returned to Australia with their children.

Earthquake felt as blackout hits Tongatapu

By
Kalino Latu
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A power outage has hit part of Tongatapu while residents have reported they felt an earthquake tremor this morning.

Some residents reported on Facebook the blackout hit when morning church services started.

Some described the quake as just small “lulu si’isi’i pē” and it was felt at 4.52am.

Meanwhile a 7.8 magnitude earthquake had been reported at 221.5 km east south east of Lautoka, Fiji with a depth of 608 km this morning September 7. The location was at north western side of Tonga.

Former Deputy PM’s son arrested following Vava’u death, reports say

By
Kalino Latu
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A son of a former Deputy Prime Minister had been arrested following the death of a man in Neiafu on Saturday 1, reports said.

Ioane Moala, 46, died from serious injuries after being assaulted allegedly during a drunken brawl.

Vili Vaipulu, 43, the son of former Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu who is currently the Vava’u 15 MP has been charged with manslaughter by negligence, Kakalu ‘O Tonga newspaper has reported.

It is believed the incident occurred after a dispute between Moala and Vili who had been drinking alcohol.

Vili remained in custody pending court appearance on September 10.

Police investigation continues.

Results of police failure to follow rules in drug case a timely warning for Tonga, says judge

By
Philip Cass
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A senior judge has warned that Tonga needs to modify its rules on the use of scientific evidence if it is to fight the sale of methamphetamine successfully.

He said the need for change was urgent and that cases could be lost if laws regarding scientific evidence were not amended.

The Hon Justice Cato made his remarks while discharging a prisoner who had been charged with possession of a small amount of the drug.

(As Kaniva reported at the time, Tevita Soakai and Maʻati Lino were arrested in Kolomotuʻa on May 17 last year with a total of 3.86 grams of methamphetamine. Lino was found in possession of 40 grams of the drug.)

Because the police did not follow the rules regarding the production of a certificate attesting that scientific analysis had clearly identified the substance found by police to be the drug, the judge released the accused, Ma’ati Voni Lino.

Under the rules such a certificate has to be served on the accused at least 28 days  before the certificate is used in court as evidence.

The accused was also supposed to notify the prosecution at least 21 days before the hearing that they required the person who made the analysis to be called by the prosecution as a witness.

Because no such letter was served, the prosecution could not rely on the certificate and the case was dismissed.

“This is a timely warning for Tonga,” Hon. Justice Cato said.

“Methamphetamine is becoming more popular in Tonga and prosecutions are becoming more common for this kind of drug.

“It has had devastating consequences for other countries where it has proved to be  difficult to control and even more to eradicate, but has  only  recently acquired a noticeable presence in Tonga.

“The practical reality for Tonga is that it will be extremely expensive and sometimes difficult to require an analyst  to  come  to  Tonga  to give evidence  where a defendant  does give notice that the analyst is required. Attendance of an overseas analyst can only be voluntary.

“It may as a consequence of this decision become routine to require the analyst to give evidence  because  it  will  be  known that a failure to call the analyst where  notice  is  given  will inevitably mean that the prosecution fails.

“This may have very serious consequences for law enforcement and the welfare of Tongans if it results in the failure to obtain convictions in drug cases of this kind.”

Hon Justice Cato said while the amount of drug involved in the Lino case was very small, the consequences would be far more serious in cases of large scale importations, or manufacturing or supply  cases.

The judge said that he had never seen an accredited analyst successfully challenged as to the identity of a drug.

“In my view, so long as the laboratory is a properly accredited laboratory for the substance  in  issue  (and this should be covered in the analyst’s certificate), the results should be regarded as conclusive on the identity of the drug and the need to call the analyst can be safely dispensed with,” he said.

As an alternative, the certificate could be admitted without  any  need  to  call  the analyst as prima facie evidence of the  identity  of  the  drug, having been served as part of the prosecution case at committal.

Before the defence could dispute the identity of the drug an analyst’s certificate to the contrary should be served on the prosecution no later than a month before trial. This would give the prosecution the opportunity to  decide  whether  it  should require its analyst to be present to give evidence, or risk the prosecution failing.

This proposal would have the desired effect  of requiring the prosecution to call expert evidence on  the  identity  of  the drug only where a plausible case has been raised by the defence.

“In my view, legislation is urgently required in Tonga to accommodate  the position of analyst evidence of drug identity   or  else more prosecutions for illicit drugs in Tonga may be in jeopardy.”

The main points

  • A senior judge has warned that Tonga needs to tighten its rules on the use of scientific evidence if it is to fight the sale of methamphetamine successfully.
  • The Hon. Justice Cato made his remarks while discharging a prisoner who had been charged with possession of a small amount of the drug.
  • Because the police did not follow the rules regarding the production of a certificate attesting that scientific analysis had clearly identified the substance found by police to be the drug, the judge released the accused, Ma’ati Voni Lino.

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Police release names of men arrested for meth possession

 

Police hunt Maryanne Mafi wanted on arrests warrants in Auckland

By
Kalino Latu
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Counties Manukau Police are seeking your help to locate 42-year-old Maryanne Mafi, who has 17 warrants to arrest in relation to dishonesty offending.

She also goes by a number of aliases including Chandrika Otufangavalu. Mafi will also use other alias names on Trade Me where our enquiries have found she tries to win auctions using valueless cheques.

Mafi is described as solid build and 166cms tall. She has a scar on her forehead and right cheek and can also be identified by a cross tattoo on the back of her left hand.

Mafi has been in the Counties Manukau area but has also been linked to the North Shore/Albany and Huntly.

Police believe she is actively avoiding Police and we urge anyone who has seen Maryanne Mafi or has any information about her whereabouts to contact Detective Brendon Pearson on 021 191 2073.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or send us a private Facebook message.

Tu’akoi accepts deal, admits to raping 17-year-old girl

By
Kaniva Staff
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A Tongan man in Natrona, United States admitted Tuesday to raping a 17-year-old girl and could face up to 30 years in prison.

Viliami Tuakoi, 59, pleaded guilty in Natrona County District Court to a single count of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor as part of a deal with prosecutors. He will be subject to deportation after he serves his sentence.

Prosecutors had initially accused Tuakoi of raping the young woman at least five times and he faced three felony counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor. Each count carried a penalty of up to 50 years in prison. He pleaded not guilty to those charges in May.

Under the conditions of the plea agreement described Tuesday in court, prosecutors dropped two of the three felony charges and will argue for a maximum of 30 years imprisonment at sentencing.

Tuakoi has been a legal resident of the United States since 1979. A Tongan translator participated in the hearing by phone.

Tuakoi hesitated to proceed with the plea deal after the judge listed the rights Tuakoi was surrendering by dropping his not-guilty plea: a trial, the presumption of innocence, and the ability to appeal. He asked for more time, which his lawyer, public defender Dylan Rosalez, explained meant days, not minutes.

Rosalez also explained that the state’s deal had come with a time limit and Rosalez said he had explained that to Tuakoi. Tuakoi had initially wanted to hold out in hopes of a better offer.

“He wants more time to think about it, but when I did the change of plea it was on the understanding that the state had a deadline,” Rosalez told the judge.

Assistant District Attorney Kevin Taheri said that if there was a continuance, he could not guarantee that the plea deal — dropping two of the felony charges and capping prison time at 30 years — would remain on the table.

“The decision is yours,” District Court Judge Thomas Sullins told Tuakoi. “You need to make that decision at this time.”

Tuakoi was silent.

“What is your decision, sir?” Sullins asked.

Tuakoi pleaded guilty.

When asked to admit for the record that he had raped the young woman in January of 2017, as stated in the felony charge, Tuakoi corrected the judge through his translator, saying the rape he was admitting to happened in April of last year.

According to heavily redacted court reports, Tuakoi held the girl down on at least one occasion, moving her from the bed to the floor so that other people in the house would not hear the assault. The girl told investigators that she had tried to make noise so that someone would come in and stop the rape.

Tuakoi faces deportation after he serves his time. His wife and three adult children live in Natrona County.

Tuakoi’s lawyer requested that the bond be reduced to $10,000, given that the Tuakoi children, aged 23, 27 and 34, require home health care and his prior criminal history is minimal — a theft case in the early ‘90s.

The judge denied that request. Bond remained at $50,000.

–Star Tribune

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Viliami Tuakoi denies forcibly raping 17-year-old girl in US

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