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Samoa newspaper editor pleads not guilty to charges

The Samoa government suspended newspaper editor, Tupuola Terry Tavita, has entered a not guilty plea to five charges, including of indecent assault.It comes after the accused appeared yesterday before Justice Mata Tuatagaloa in the District Court.Justice Tuatagaloa has declared a conflict of interest and the trial will now be heard by Justice Vaepule Vaemoa Va'ai.Mr Tavita was originally charged with attempting to rape a female journalist student at the National University of Samoa last December.The prosecution on Monday withdrew that charge and substituted indecent assault charges.