Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Witchcraft charge dismissed against traditional healers in Samoa

Posted at 21:55 on 15 November, 2009 UTC

The Supreme Court in Samoa has dimissed one count of witchcraft against a couple standing trial for the death of a 44 year old woman who was severely burnt in a hot water treatment allegedly as a result of the witchcraft.

It is the first case of witchcraft treatment that has gone to court but the charge was dismissed because the prosecution had no evidence to prove the charge.

Meanwhile the case will resume tomorrow for the presiding judge to sum up the evidence before the panel of four assessors.

They will then retire to determine their verdict on the remaining charges of actual bodily harm and manslaughter against the couple from Levi Saleimoa village.