Dad on trial for murdering 4-year-old son because he asked for food (Noku'alofa, Tonga)

Dad SIONE TALIA'ULI is on trial for the beating death of his 4-year-old son, who was "allegedly" assaulted over three days because he asked for food.

http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/courts/20100517_tonga_sione_taliauli_murder_trial.shtml

Father inflicted shocking injury on child who asked for food, jury told
17 May 2010, 17:37

Nuku'alofa, Tonga:

A father from Popua, Sione Talia'uli (31) appeared at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court today, May 17, charged with the murder of his four-year-old-son Tutei Talia'uli at Popua in September last year.

The defendant appeared for the first day of his jury trial today represented by counsel Sifa Tu'utafaiva while the Solicitor General 'Aminiasi Kefu represented the Crown Prosecution.

In opening the prosecution's case it alleged that the defendant murdered his son, the youngest of his three children, by assaulting him causing grievous bodily harm to his body causing his death on September 8, 2009.

The four-year-old boy, who has a twin sister, was beaten up by his father for two days firstly on Saturday, September 5, 2009 where the defendant used a wooden stick that left bruises on the young boy's body.

The court was also told that the beating was because the young boy had complained that he did not have enough food to eat.

The Crown also alleged that the father again beat his young son on Monday, September 7 but this time with an electric wire that had a knot at the end. The beating was so severe that the boy was left speechless. The child's mother Siutaisa Tupou Talia'uli who awoke to the beating stopped her husband and got the child.

On Tuesday September 8 the parents saw that Tutei was not in a good condition so they rushed him to the hospital where the Pediatrician at Vaiola Hospital Dr Siaosi 'Aho examined him.

The Crown added the pediatrician was shocked with the injury inflicted on the child who passed away at 10:00am on September 8, after his heart failed.

The Crown would call 10 witnesses to give evidence in the jury trial that is expected to run for the remainder of the week.

No bail

After hearing the prosecution today, Mr Justice Shuster revoked the defendant's bail. He said he would review the bail after the Crown finishes their case.

In Tonga there are only two penalties for murder, one is the death sentence and the other is life imprisonment.

The latest murder conviction was on May 10, when Tupou Vaivai Pole'o Palu (19) was sentenced to life imprisonment after jurors found him guilty for the murder of Silivesiteli Tonga'uiha (35) at Houma last year.