Apia, SAMOA — The Samoa Observer is reporting a man accused of murdering a female cop last December will be filing another bail application with the hope of getting released pending his Supreme Court trial next year.

The defendant Edward Jireh Fanueli appeared in the Supreme Court on Monday before Justice Fepuleai Ameperosa Roma. He was represented by lawyer Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt and has been in custody since December last year.

Through his lawyer, the defendant is seeking to file another bail application after his first one was denied by the Supreme Court in February this year.

According to The Observer, he has pleaded not guilty to one count of murder, one count of manslaughter, one count of causing grievous bodily harm, one count of being armed with a dangerous weapon, and one count of possession of an unlawful weapon.

The charges are connected to an incident on Dec, 24, 2022 where it is alleged he shot police officer Mele Lapana resulting in her death.

Justice Roma told the defendant’s lawyer that he can refile his bail application on Monday next week. His initial hearing date was scheduled for August this year but has been pushed back to March next year.

The prosecution had opposed the defendant’s first bail application on the grounds that the deceased was yet to be buried and her family was still mourning her sudden death.

Justice Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren, in her decision to deny bail, noted the grief the family of the deceased was dealing with at the time and her family wanting to get revenge for her death.

“In their words, it would affect their ability to mourn in peace,” said Justice Tuala-Warren in denying the initial bail application. “This factor weighs heavily against granting bail. There is also a risk to the safety of the applicant if he is released on bail.”

Fanueli is a former police officer and the deceased was his partner and was off duty on the night of the incident.

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