1 Mar 2003

Samoan accused pleads not guilty to murder of five year old girl

8:49 am on 1 March 2003

A nineteen year old Samoan man accused of the murder of a five year old girl has pleaded not guilty to the charge in the Apia Supreme Court.

Ie'u Pasi Lelelimalefaga was remanded in custody to face trial set down for April 14th.

The case has been described by Samoa's assistant police commissioner as the worst homicide in Samoa in forty years and has prompted calls for the revival of the death sentence which still exists in Samoan law.