4 Feb 2015

Samoa newspaper editor pleads not guilty to charges

8:24 am on 4 February 2015

The Samoa government suspended newspaper editor, Tupuola Terry Tavita, has entered a not guilty plea to five charges, including of indecent assault.

It comes after the accused appeared yesterday before Justice Mata Tuatagaloa in the District Court.

Justice Tuatagaloa has declared a conflict of interest and the trial will now be heard by Justice Vaepule Vaemoa Va'ai.

Mr Tavita was originally charged with attempting to rape a female journalist student at the National University of Samoa last December.

The prosecution on Monday withdrew that charge and substituted indecent assault charges.