Mother collapses after verdict

Press, 15 October 1986, Page 4

Mother collapses after verdict

PA Auckland A jury in the High Court at Auckland has convicted three men and acquitted two others of a South Auckland double murder. Emotional scenes greeted the announcement of the verdicts. The three men found guilty are lose Sheck, aged 28, an unemployed storeman, of Papatoetoe; Faalili Saitua, aged 31, an unemployed chargehand, of Mangere; and Steven Edward Leo, aged 26, a repairman of East ‘Tamaki. They were sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Speight. The two men acquitted were Elama Mulumu, aged 34, a bus driver, of Manurewa; and Toloumu loane, aged 35, a boner,

of Manurewa. All five had pleaded not guilty to a charge of the murder of Julian Hema and Rawiri Johnson outside the Manukau Arms Tavern, Wiri, on May 24. The jury retired for almost &y 2 hours before returning its verdicts to shouts and tears from more than 30 relatives and friends of the defendants in the public gallery. The mother of Saitua, who had travelled from Samoa for the trial, collapsed when the, verdict against her son was announced. Ambulancemen were called but the woman did not require treatment. The wife of one of the murder victims shouted, “Hang them,” hang them” as the convicted men were led from the court.