Pacific / Samoa

Jail not sought for Samoan nurses over baby deaths

18:58 pm on 24 June 2019

Samoan prosecutors will not seek prison terms for two nurses charged in connection with the deaths of two toddlers last year after they were vaccinated.

Leutogi Te'o (C) and Luse Tauvale (R) talking to their lawyer after entering guilty pleas Photo: RNZ/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

Nurses Luse Emo Tauvale and Leutogi Te'o pleaded guilty to manslaughter last month and will be sentenced next Tuesday in Samoa's Supreme Court.

On Friday, prosecution and defence lawyers agreed to recommended to judges the nurses be banned from their profession for two-years and required to undertake training.

Samoa's health ministry said the babies' deaths were caused by the nurses mixing the wrong liquid with the vaccine for Measles, Mumps and Rubella.