17 Feb 2007

Samoan man sentenced over killing of MP

11:52 am on 17 February 2007

The man found guilty of murdering a Samoan politician in Auckland has been sentenced to ten and a half years in jail.

49 year old Vase Losefa Falaniko stabbed the Su'a Atonio, who was in a relationship with Falaniko's estranged wife.

In October 2005 Falaniko pushed his way into his estranged wife's Manurewa home with a concealed knife and stabbed Su'a Atonio, who was visiting from Samoa.

His niece, Maureen Moors, who was at the sentencing, had hoped for a longer jail term

Falaniko read out a statement at his sentencing and apologised to the Samoan government, the slain MP's electorate, his family, and New Zealand.