The murder trial of a man who allegedly shot a policewoman at Aleisa two years ago has been pushed back to March next year. 

Edward Jireh Fanueli was scheduled to stand trial on Tuesday this week for the murder of Mele Segisolo Lapana on 24 December 2022. 

However, he appeared in the Supreme Court on Monday to have his trial rescheduled due to the unavailability of the prosecution pathologist to testify this week. 

This is the second time the hearing date for Fanueli has been vacated. 

Supreme Court Judge Justice Fepuleai Ameperosa Roma scheduled the new hearing date on 24 March 2025 and the defendant will remain on bail until then. 

Fanueli has already pleaded not guilty to all charges against him; one count of murder, one count of manslaughter, one count of causing grievous bodily harm, one count of being armed with a dangerous weapon, and one count of possession of an unlawful weapon.

Represented by lawyer Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt, the defendant is alleged to have shot the 31-year-old policewoman at an after-party at his house in Aleisa. 

Fanueli had his bail denied in February last year and reapplied for bail when his trial date was postponed. 

The defendant was allegedly dating the policewoman at the time she was killed.