By SCOTT INGLIS
The peaceful Pacific island of Niue is in shock after its first homicide in nearly 50 years.
A 40-year-old Tongan man is in custody after allegedly shooting his mother-in-law last Monday night (NZ time).
The man allegedly went to his victim's home in the south part of the capital
Alofi and shot the 50-year-old once in the head. He then gave himself up to police.
Most on the island knows who was involved, but those people contacted by the Weekend Herald refuse to say more until authorities have officially released names.
The Herald understands a motive has not yet been established.
The attack has stunned the 1700 people of Niue, which has close ties with New Zealand.
The tiny 260 sq km island is normally almost crime-free. Sixteen police deal with fewer than 200 offences, mainly traffic, in a given year.
The last homicide was on August 16, 1953, when three escaped prisoners armed with knives brutally slaughtered the New Zealand Resident Commissioner, Wellington-born Cecil Larsen, as he lay sleeping in bed.
His wife, Jessica, suffered severe head cuts and a broken arm, but survived.
Mr Larsen's killers were convicted and sentenced to death - although the sentences were commuted to life in prison the following May.
In the latest killing, the accused man has been charged with causing death by unlawfully using a firearm.
It is unclear whether he will face a more serious charge of murder or manslaughter.
The man, understood to be a taro and melon grower who has residency, is being held at Fonuakula Prison and is expected to be brought before the island's High Court in about a month.
It is likely a judge from New Zealand will preside and a Tongan lawyer could be brought in to represent the man.
Investigations are continuing in the meantime. Some of the victim's family in Tonga have not yet been told of the tragedy.
The island's weekly newspaper, the Niue Star, is understood to be running a brief article today.
The Weekend Herald has learned that some officials are worried about the impact the shooting could have on Niue's safe, crime-free image.
It follows a 9-year-old boy accidentally shooting his younger brother on the island a few weeks ago.
No one is being charged over that incident.
Many islanders have shotguns for hunting, but they must be licensed.
There is little crime in Niue because most people know each other.
Few thefts are reported.
Tongans make up about 14 per cent of the population and most of them are nationalised.
Niue, which lies at the centre of a triangle formed by Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands, celebrated 26 years of independence from New Zealand this month.
More than 6000 Niueans live in New Zealand, and there are a further 12,000-plus New Zealand-born people of Niuean descent.
By SCOTT INGLIS
The peaceful Pacific island of Niue is in shock after its first homicide in nearly 50 years.
A 40-year-old Tongan man is in custody after allegedly shooting his mother-in-law last Monday night (NZ time).
The man allegedly went to his victim's home in the south part of the capital
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