4 Aug 2009

Former Samoa police officer jailed for manslaughter

10:19 pm on 4 August 2009

A former police officer in Samoa, Tiumalumanaia Filipo Langkilde, has been sentenced to seven years jail after being convicted of manslaughter.

The killing of a 48 year old man at Elise Fou village last June was deemed by the coroner to have been the result of serious facial stab wounds from a machete.

The coroner's report has declared that Peti Gae'e died instantly at the crime scene from loss of blood as a result of the severe injuries from an unprovoked attack by the defendant.

According to the police summary of facts the former policeman's crime is linked to an alleged marital affair between his wife and the deceased.

Tiumalumanaia Filipo was originally charged with murder, but the prosecution last month dropped it and substituted with the lesser charge of manslaughter.

The defendant was in police custody for over a year and that time is deducted from his seven-year jail term.