Pacific

Murder trial opens in Samoa

08:17 am on 7 December 2002

The murder trial of a 21 year old man has opened in Samoa's Supreme court.

Tanielu Savaii is accused of stabbing to death 17 year old student, Petaia Luagalau, in August this year at the Maagiagi cemetry near the capital, Apia.

Two of the 13 witnesses recalled for the court what occurred on that day.

The defendant is being represented by Jerry Brunt while Raymond Schuster is the prosecutor.