The youngest of four youth arrested in relation to the death of Chinese national Mr Cao Yaqunh has pleaded guilty to murder.
Gogosina Leilua, 18, is one of the four youth charged with murder and armed robbery following the invasion robbery at Vaitele that left one man dead and three seriously injured from stab wounds.
Gogosina vacated his not guilty plea and entered a guilty plea through his lawyer Leiataualesa Komisi Koria yesterday. The other three young men have maintained their not guilty pleas to murder.
Gogosina is one of two brothers involved in the incident. His brother Mikaele Leilua was with him that night along with Tafi Samuelu and Kome Sioeli.
A family member told Samoa Global News at the time that Gogosina had run back in when he heard his older brother crying out for help, “Fia ola”.
At the time, an uncle of one of the boys, a man named Jason who mows lawns to earn a living, told Samoa Global News that the boys were running away after the burglary when they heard the elder of the two brothers calling out for help (fia ola).
“They said he was calling out pleading for his life.”
“Fai mai sa fogo mai i le fia ola.”
According to the source when his nephew and the others ran back, they saw the older of the two brothers tied by the neck and bleeding from his arm. He says the older brother had an injured arm from placing it up to stop an alleged knife attack to his head.
“When they ran back they saw the older brother tied by the neck.”
“Fai mai o la e kamomoe ese, ae fogõ mai le alii makua i le fia ola, ai ua maua e Saiga le koakasi legā, ae o aku o la e sele mai le ua i le maea, ae ua sau le palapala i le kualima”.
Jason says that there is no excuse for the alleged burglary but believes and it is his opinion that the boys did not intend to kill anyone.
According to Jason the boys are troubled youth from Vaiusu and Vaigaga. He says his nephew has become involved with the wrong group of friends.
“O lo’u nephew le uo lelei lava o le alii laikiki o le ‘auso, ae ua alaku ai foi ma ia i kaaga o lega po.”
Gogosina Leilua will be sentenced on the 30th of March 2020 before Justice Nelson.
