Two supposed boy racers charged with reckless driving have been discharged without conviction after District Court Judge Alalatoa Rosella Viane Papali'i questioned the rationale behind the charges.
Photo: RNZI/ Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
The charges are related to an incident on July 31 this year where the two accused drove their vehicles doing smoking wheelies on the road which the Judge described as a "beautiful tribute" during the funeral procession of a boy racer killed while racing along one of Apia's main streets.
The Samoa Observer reported that Orlando Keil and Scott Levi were charged by the police with reckless driving, with the former also facing a charge of driving an unregistered vehicle.
The drivers' antics were the focus of much discussion on social media when video of their handiwork surfaced on facebook.
The prosecution argued the actions of the two defendants were dangerous as they had no regard for the nature, condition and use of the road.
They also submitted to the Court that residents at Tuanaimato lodged complaints against both defendants.
However, Judge Alalatoa told the two defendants that she struggled to understand how their actions amounted to reckless driving when it was a "beautiful tribute" to a car racer.
"I myself thought it was a beautiful tribute for a car racer child really who passed away suddenly in rather tragic circumstances. I did not see anything wrong with it."