Murder trial of acclaimed Samoan poet and playwright opens

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Apia, SAMOA – August 19, 2025 — The high-profile murder trial of celebrated Samoan poet and playwright Papali‘i Sia Figiel opened this week in the Supreme Court of Samoa.

Papalii stands accused of the killing of Sinavaiana Dr. Caroline Gabbard, a distinguished American Samoan academic, poet, and environmental advocate. Dr. Gabbard made history as the first Samoan to achieve full professorship at a U.S. university, and her contributions to Pacific literature and indigenous knowledge have been widely celebrated.

The defendant faces six criminal charges, including murder, manslaughter, grievous bodily harm, assault, actual bodily harm, and being armed with a dangerous weapon, specifically a knife and a hammer.

The case has drawn national and international attention, not only due to the brutal nature of the allegations but also because of the cultural prominence of both women.

CASE BACKGROUND

According to police reports, the victim, Sinavaiana Dr. Caroline Gabbard, a respected American Samoan academic and poet, was residing in Siusega at the time of her death

On Friday, 24 May 2024, she was at the residence of Papalii Sia Figiel in Vaivase, where her maimed body was discovered three days later, on Sunday, 26 May 2024, inside Papalii’s GaluMoana Theater.

Following the alleged attack, Papalii reportedly used Dr. Gabbard’s vehicle, a black Toyota RAV4, to travel to Vavau Beach Fales, a remote tourist spot. Witnesses testified that she arrived around 6 p.m. and insisted on staying overnight despite the site lacking basic amenities.

On Saturday, 25 May, Papalii left Vavau and traveled to Lotofaga, where she stayed overnight with a relative. The next day, Sunday, 26 May, she allegedly confessed to the incident, prompting her relative to notify authorities.

Police later recovered Dr. Sinavaiana-Gabbard’s body and described the scene as gruesome, with evidence suggesting the use of a knife and hammer as weapons.

First Day Of Trial

On Monday, August 18, 2025, the first day of the trial, the police called four witnesses to testify.

1st Witness Testimony

Corporal Peter Fuimaono was the police forensic officer who documented the crime scene.

He submitted three photo booklets containing photos from the crime scene showing the location and condition of the deceased’s body, photos taken at the morgue showing the body’s condition post-recovery, and the deceased’s vehicle, documenting the state and location of the car allegedly used by Papalii to travel after the incident.

Each scene was photographed from four different angles to ensure comprehensive visual documentation.

During his testimony, Fuimaono described a disturbing scene.

“There was a black plastic trash paper nailed to the bathroom door, and when I opened it, the body was on the floor in a deteriorated state,” Fuimaono testified.

As Fuimaono began describing the second booklet, which focused on the body’s condition, Papalii broke down in tears. Justice Fepuleai Ameperosa Roma then called a 10-minute adjournment to allow defense counsel Unasa Iuni Sapolu to attend to her client.

When proceedings resumed, Corporal Fuimaono informed the court that all photos were taken on 26 May 2024, the day police were notified of the crime, and Papalii was consequently arrested.

2nd & 3rd Witness Testimonies

On Friday, 24 May 2024, around 6pm, Papalii Sia Figiel arrived at Vavau Beach Fales, a popular day-use tourist site on Samoa’s southern coast. Two staff members, Mita’i Liliau and Losalosi Malologa Tu’u, testified about her unexpected visit.

Mita’i Liliau, the only staff member present at the time, told the court that Papalii requested to spend the night at one of the beach fales. He initially refused, explaining that the site had no electricity, no beds, and was not equipped for overnight stays. However, Papalii persisted, insisting that she be allowed to stay.

Concerned, Mita’i sought guidance from his supervisor, Losalosi Malologa Tu’u, a village matai (chief). Losalosi advised him to allow Papalii to stay but instructed Mita’i to remain nearby to ensure her safety.

The next morning, Mita’i testified that he woke around 5 a.m. to find Papalii missing, although the black Toyota RAV4 she had arrived in was still parked at the site.

He notified Losalosi, and together they went looking for Papalii. They also looked at a neighboring place but could not find her.

Losalosi told the court that they met three young children and asked if they had seen a woman, but the children said no. However, they told Losalosi and Mita'i that their dog was barking loudly at something. Losalosi and Mita’i then followed the children and the dog.

They eventually found Papalii inland from the beach, lying on rocks with leaves covering her face and upper body.

“I did not see Papalii, but I saw only someone’s feet protruding out of the rocks, and when I reached it, I saw her lying on the rocks with her face covered by laugapāpā leaves,” said Losalosi.

Concerned for her well-being, Losalosi Malologa Tu'u stated that he gently massaged her forehead and shoulder, slowly nudging her awake. When she stirred, Papalii requested “two hours just to lie there,” but Losalosi declined, explaining to the court:

“I would not allow it because I do not want to be blamed for something that may have happened to her.”

They walked back together to the beach, where Papalii claimed her car had died. However, when Losalosi tried the ignition, the vehicle started without issue, and Papalii left the premises

Three days later, on May 27, 2025, Losalosi encountered Papalii again — this time accompanied by two police officers. When asked about the purpose of their visit, Losalosi stated:

“They came to find a bag which was found on the rocks where she (Papalii) was lying on Saturday morning.”

4th Witness Testimony

Koreti Wulf, cousin of the late Sinavaiana Dr. Caroline Gabbard, took the stand as the fourth witness and gave an emotional and deeply personal account of the family's growing concern and the heartbreaking discovery that followed.

Wulf testified that she and her family had tried repeatedly to contact Dr. Gabbard over the weekend, but received no response from either of her two mobile phones. Alarmed, they visited her home in Siusega, only to find it untouched, with no signs of movement since Friday. In an effort to locate her, Wulf called the hospital to check for any reported traffic accidents, but was informed that none had been recorded.

It was only after contacting the police on Monday morning that she and her family were asked to come to the station. “The deputy commissioner said they were trying to locate any of the deceased’s family but were relieved when I called,” Wulf told the court.

Wulf recounted the devastating moment she was asked to identify her cousin’s body at the morgue.

Overcome with emotion, she described the scene: “She (Sinavaiana) was in a terrible state (tulaga mata’utia),” she said, visibly shaken. Wulf confirmed that Dr. Sinavaiana lived alone in Siusega. She was unsure how long her cousin had been in Samoa, but knew she was conducting research and writing about Tupua Tamasese, a revered figure in Samoan history.

When asked about the deceased’s social circle, Wulf admitted she had not inquired about her friends. The trial continues.