Canadian pleads guilty to possession of narcotics

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 01 October 2018, 12:00AM

A Canadian man charged with possession of drugs appeared before the Chief Justice His Honour Patu Tiava’asu’e Falefatu Sapolu yesterday.

William Ernest Rockliffe, 50, is accused of possession of narcotics and possession of utensils. 

Inside the courtroom yesterday, prosecution Leone Su’a-Mailo made an application to the Chief Justice to withdraw one of the charges.

She did not clarify which charge has been withdrawn, however she asked the Court to withdraw information S1369/18.

“That is the only charge we wish to be withdrawn but we will proceed with the remaining charges,” she told the court.

Chief Justice Patu granted the application and told the defendant that the said information has been withdrawn by leave.

Lefau Harry Schuster, who is representing the accused, told the court that his client wishes to enter a guilty plea on the remaining charges, which is possession of narcotics and utensils.

He also made an application to have the sentencing date early.

The application was granted by the Court. Chief Justice Patu adjourned the matter to October 5 for a pre-sentence report and a summary of facts to be submitted before Justice Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren. 

Rockliffe is released on bail and has been ordered to surrender all travel documents.

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 01 October 2018, 12:00AM
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