Supreme Court Judge

The Samoa Observer newspaper reported Justice Vui Clarence Nelson made the call during the sentencing of a father for the manslaughter of his 14-year-old son last year.

The deceased is one of 17 bodies awaiting autopsies at Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital on Upolu Island along with four others at the Savai'i Island mortuary.

Last week it was revealed the bodies were still awaiting post-mortem procedures, with some having been in the mortuaries for more than a year.

Justice Vui said this was a matter that needed to be brought to the attention of the Health Ministry.

The evidence by the victim who was evacuated to New Zealand in January for medical treatment for serious facial injuries suffered from a gunshot, was conducted via video link.

Local media started covering the trial on Tuesday but they are in the dark on the grounds of the closed door application.

The senior prosecutor lawyer did not provide the court with the reason.

However, Justice Tafaoimalo Tuala Warren accepted the application under the section of the Criminal Procedure Act relating to powers of the court to issue suppression orders.