Ads by Google Ads by Google

Man found guilty of murdering wife submits late application to appeal

Kolani Junior Lam with his attorne
Source: Samoa Global News

Apia, SAMOA — A man found guilty of killing his wife is seeking leave of the Court to allow a late application to appeal the Supreme Court decision of Justice Mata Tuatagaloa, handed down in December 2019.

Kolani Junior Lam was found guilty of murdering his wife and former Government Chief Executive Officer Sa’u Justina Sa’u Lam in the early hours of Sunday 31st October 2018.

Justice Tuatagaloa delivered her verdict on the 19th of December 2019 after a 2-week long judge-only hearing.

“For the charge of murder that you are found guilty of, the penalty is life imprisonment and that will automatically apply,” Justice Tuatagaloa had said at the time.

“Defence believed Justina hung herself and that suicide is the cause of death;

“The Court has accepted the report of the pathologist and finds that Kolani Junior Lam strangled his wife using his hands”, Justice Tuagaloa had added.

Defense counsel Leiataualesa Komisi Koria, however, is now seeking leave of the Court to appeal out of time.

The matter was called for the hearing of submissions before Justice Tuatagaloa, who instead raised a legal issue for counsels to address.

Judicature rules provides that Notice of Appeal must be filed within 21 days after a defendant is convicted and sentenced, while criminal procedure says it is 14 days.

Leiataualesa however, had only filed a Notice of Appeal in March 2020.

Justice Tuatagaloa clarified, that an extension of time is submitted before the time for an appeal lapses. If the application for appeal is filed after the time allowed, then that is enlargement of time..

“In my interpertation, an extension of time applies before the time is up, and you file for that time limit to be extended. If you file outside the time limit; that is why I am asking Counsel, if the appropriate application then, is for time to be enlarged because you have filed outside the time limit?”

Justice Tuatagaloa further clarified that enlargement of time is within the Court of Appeal’s jurisdiction, while extension of time is within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

Read more at Samoa Global News