23 Nov 2011

Niue men to be sentenced in High Court next year

5:57 pm on 23 November 2011

The Chief of Police in Niue says two men who pleaded guilty to assault and wilful mischief at an incident at Hikutavake village, just hours after the election in May, will be formally sentenced next year.

A house in the village belonging to the son of the village's re-elected MP, Opili Talafasi, was destroyed by fire on the same night.

Mark Chenery says Judge Wilson Isaac last week reserved his decision on two charges involving the male defendants in the Niue High Court.

"What's happened is Justice Isaacs has reserved his decision in relation to some of those charges and we will get the written decision probably in the next few weeks. What I can tell you is that Lionel Tahega pleaded guilty to an assault and willful mischief of a television and Desmond Togiakona pleaded guilty to assault. So, the judge has got a couple of other charges that he needs to decide on."

Mr Chenery says the men will appear in the Niue High Court in March, when they will receive a sentencing date.

He adds, the police were pleased to get the case before the courts within six months of the incident.