Pacific / Samoa

Former Samoa MP, convicted of murder, dies

08:22 am on 26 June 2015

The former Samoa government minister convicted of murder, Leafa Vitale, has died.

Photo: AFP

Vitale was jailed for life in 2000 with another government minister, Toi Aukuso, for the death of the Minister of Works, Luagalau Levaula Kamu.

The police spokesman, Su'a Muli'aga Tiumalu, confirmed Leafa died this week at the national hospital Motootua.

Aukuso had died in 2009, but Leafa was one of the 35 prisoners released from prison in 2012 under an amnesty to commemorate Samoa's 50th anniversary of independence.

Both had been ministers under the leadership of the late Prime Minister, Tofilau Eti Alesana.