5 Sep 2002

Trial of Tonga students deferred till September 26th

9:51 am on 5 September 2002

In Tonga, 224 students from Tupou College have had their court appearance on wilful damage charges deferred until September 26th.

The group, which allegedly trashed parts of long time rival Tonga College last month, were due in court yesterday.

But a police spokesman says they had not finished their preparations for the case and asked for it to be put back.

The students are said to have broken windows, and destroyed computers, musical instruments and a truck in an early morning raid on Tonga College.

The damage is estimated at around a quarter of a million US dollars.