Lise Marie Schmidt pleads guilty in case implicating Fiamē

Lise Marie Schmidt has pleaded guilty to 10 charges over claims that potentially implicated former Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa in the investigation into the death of Professor Caroline Sinavaiana-Gabbard.

Schmidt is a social media blogger and relative of current Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt.

She had been facing 19 charges in the District Court: nine of misleading police, nine of fabricating evidence and one of conspiracy to defeat or pervert the course of justice.

Talamua Media reports Schmidt changed her pleas to guilty on the nine misleading-police charges on Tuesday, the second day of her trial.

The prosecution also withdrew all nine charges of fabricating evidence, leaving the conspiracy charge before the court.

On Wednesday, Samoa Global News reported the prosecution decided to proceed with the remaining charge, but amended it to “attempting to pervert the course of justice”. Schmidt then pleaded guilty to the amended charge.

Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt and Lise Marie Schmidt, outside court earlier this year for a separate case. Photo/Sāmoa Global News

The case stems from statements Schmidt made following Sinavaiana-Gabbard’s death in May 2024. Her body was found at the Vaivase-Uta home of acclaimed Sāmoan writer Papali‘i Sia Figiel.

According to court reports by the Samoa Observer, Schmidt claimed she had been instructed by Fiamē, who was Prime Minister at the time, to secure Sinavaiana-Gabbard’s mobile phone and tablet to prevent unauthorised access or information being leaked.

Schmidt also claimed she found photographs and video on the phone relating to an alleged confrontation involving Figiel.

Former Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa publicly denied the allegations made by Lise Marie Schmidt and was listed among the witnesses in the case. Photo/File

The Observer reported Schmidt allegedly claimed the video captured a phone conversation during the alleged murder, including the words “it’s done”, and that she recognised the caller’s voice as Fiamē’s.

The misleading-police charges relate to correspondence Schmidt sent to authorities, including the Attorney-General and police.

Fiamē publicly denied the allegations in March 2025, saying nothing like what Schmidt alleged had happened and pointing out she was overseas at the time of Sinavaiana-Gabbard’s death.

At the time, Fiamē said she would not pursue Schmidt personally after police concluded their investigation and found the allegations could not be substantiated.

But the claims later resurfaced during Sāmoa’s 2025 general election campaign.

At a Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi roadshow, current Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt said another person was prepared to testify that Fiamē had instructed them to remove evidence connected with Sinavaiana-Gabbard’s death.

Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt made comments about the Sinavaiana-Gabbard case during a FAST roadshow in a 2025 election campaign. Photo/FAST

In October 2025, Fiamē launched a ST$1.1 million (NZ$690,000) Supreme Court defamation action against both Laaulialemalietoa and Lise Marie.

The action relates to Laaulialemalietoa’s election-campaign comments and allegations contained in letters Lise Marie sent to authorities.

The nine misleading-police charges alleged Lise Marie wilfully made false statements to police with the intention of misleading officers in the execution of their duties.

Watch Lise Marie Schmidt's reaction after Wednesday's court session.

Her trial opened on Monday before District Court Judge Papali‘i Alalatoa Rosela Papali‘i, with 36 witnesses expected to give evidence, including Fiamē. Five witnesses had given evidence before Lise Marie changed her pleas.

Figiel had been charged with Sinavaiana-Gabbard’s murder and died in her cell at Tanumalala Prison in January while awaiting sentencing. She had also been expected to give evidence in Lise Marie’s case.

Lise Marie has pleaded guilty to the nine misleading-police charges and the amended charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice, while the nine fabrication charges have been withdrawn.

She is due to be sentenced on 16 March 2027.