A woman who has been in jail for five years for the fatal shooting of her husband in Vatia, will be sentenced in October after a plea agreement with the prosecution was accepted by the High Court this week.

Oilau Toe Fa’aola was accused in the April 2005 shooting of her husband, Susunu Fa’aola at the family home in Vatia. The shooting also injured Susunu’s sister, Fa’amau Ieremia.

Fa’aola was initially charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon. The assault charge is in connection with a gunshot that wounded Ieremia.

The defendant, who is now 63, has been in custody since the shooting while her case goes through the legal system. Many motions have been filed regarding the case, including a mental evaluation.

However, on Wednesday, Fa’aola appeared in court where a plea agreement was presented in which two of the charges were amended and accepted by the court.

Under the agreement, Fa’aola pleads guilty to murder in the second degree —a felony punishable by life imprisonment or 10 to 30 years in jail— and third degree assault, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, a fine of $1,000 or both while the other charge is dismissed.

By pleading guilty to the amended charges, Fa’aola admits to firing the gun that killed her husband on Apr. 15, 2005 as well as injuring Ieremia.

Prosecution is recommending that the court order Fa’aola to pay restitution to cover medical expenses for Ieremia.

Chief Justice Michael Kruse questioned Assistant Attorney General Charles Lee as to the whereabouts of the gun used in the shooting. Lee replied that it is still under the care of DPS.

Kruse scheduled sentencing for Oct. 1 and ordered the government to bring the weapon on that date so it could be ordered to be destroyed.

Samoa News/Le Lali reporter Ausage Fausia contributed to this story.