Murder suspect

Murder suspect to appear in Tonga court next week

The 40-year-old victim from ‘Ēsia was rushed to hospital from outside a bar and restaurant in Nuku’alofa in 23 August.

He died on Friday last week.

According to Police, the suspect was arrested in Tongatapu last week.

Kaniva News reports the suspect was charged with causing grievous bodily harm.

The suspect remains in Police custody to appear in court on Monday, 8 October.

The names of the victim and the accused have not been released.

 

     

US murder suspect charged with wife’s death in Tonga wants his cash back

A public defender for Dean Jay Fletcher filed a motion Thursday saying the government is illegally keeping the currency.

U.S. marshals brought Fletcher to Honolulu last month after he allegedly escaped from a Tonga jail and sailed to American Samoa.

Court documents say he was indicted on a murder charge in the July death of his wife, Patricia Linne Kearney.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Butrick says the government seized the money in accordance with a treaty with Tonga. He says the cash is worth about $10,000.

Murder suspect, trial witness mistakenly put in same cell

The men weren't handcuffed when the guard put them in a cell during a break in the trial this week, and an investigation will be conducted on how it happened, Allen County Sheriff Sam Crish told The Lima News. 

He said authorities broke up the altercation within two minutes, and the men suffered only minor injuries.