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Court Report

HUSBAND FACES FELONY ASSAULT

A man who allegedly struck his wife’s head with a piece of lumber is now facing second degree assault; this in addition to private peace disturbance and public peace disturbance charges. The incident is alleged to have occurred in Pago Pago two weekends ago.  

According to the government’s case, police received a call from the LBJ hospital about a woman who was allegedly assaulted by her husband, when she was taken in for medical treatment.

Samoa News is withholding the name of the defendant to protect the identity of the victim involved.

According to the government’s case the defendant had a verbal argument with his wife after she asked her husband not to go out drinking, however the defendant got in the car and sped off.

Police affidavit says while the defendant was speeding away, the victim threw an empty beer bottle at the car. It’s alleged the defendant stopped the car, got out of his vehicle and allegedly threw a full beer bottle at his wife, but missed. It’s alleged the defendant then found a piece of lumber that was lying around and struck his wife on the head.

The victim was then taken to the hospital to undergo treatment for the cut on her head as a result of the alleged attack. According to the government’s case the cut on the victim’s head required six stitches.

The defendant, who’s now held on bail of $5,000, is scheduled to come before the District Court today for a status hearing. The defendant is represented by Assistant Public Defender Donna Clement while prosecuting is Assistant Attorney General Cable Poag.

MAN ARRESTED FOR RANSACKING MOTHER’S HOME

The government is looking at filing additional charges against a 20-year old man who allegedly ransacked his mother’s house and attempted to hit his mother and his sister.

Alesana Alesana of Vaitogi is facing public peace disturbance and his bail is set at $500.

According to the government’s case, Alesana wanted to use his mother’s car. It’s alleged the mother agreed to let him use it, however asked him to hurry back because she also needed to use her car later. The mother told police that all of the sudden her son got furious and started swearing at her. Police affidavit states that the son then ransacked everything in his mother’s house.

It’s alleged the defendant used a sledge hammer, striking the sliding windows from the living room all the way to kitchen. According to the police affidavit, when police officers arrived at the scene, there were pieces of glass everywhere, holes in the walls and the flat screen TV was laying near the front door.

Police took photos of the damage, which was estimated to be more than $5,000. The defendant was in his bedroom when police arrived at the scene and he was apprehended and taken to the Tafuna Correctional Facility on Friday. 

MAN ALLEGED TO ASSAULT WIFE OVER TAX REFUND

A man was arrested over the weekend after he allegedly assaulted his wife following their argument over the husband’s tax refund.

According to the government’s case, police were contacted by the victim claiming that her husband had beaten her.

Samoa News is withholding the name of the defendant to protect the identity of the victim involved.

The victim told police that her husband allegedly punched her in the face and choked her, following their argument over money. It’s alleged the defendant’s father went after the victim with a piece of metal, but members of the family held him back, and the victim managed to leave her husband’s house.

The victim also asked assistance from police in getting her two-year old son away from her husband. Police went to the defendant’s house and took the defendant along with the baby to the West Substation.

The defendant told police that after the argument with his wife, he told her to feed the baby, however the wife threw the baby down and this made him mad — so he punched her. The baby was handed over to his mother and the defendant was then taken to jail.

Police said the defendant gave $700 of his tax refund to his parents to pay bills and this upset his wife and then the argument started.

The defendant is facing third degree assault and public peace disturbance. His bail has been set at $200.

CASE OF HIGH CHIEF CHARGED WITH RAPE IN HIGH COURT

The 62-year old man who’s charged in connection with a sex case involving a 16-year old girl, who became pregnant, has denied the charges against him.

According to the government’s case the defendant is the victim’s uncle, family sponsor and her family’s High Chief. He is facing charges of rape, sexual abuse first degree and endangering the welfare of a child.

Samoa News is withholding the name of the defendant to protect the identity of the victim.       

The defendant was arraigned in the High Court before Chief Justice Michael Kruse last week. According to the government’s case, a relative of the victim filed a complaint with police accusing the Uncle as the one who allegedly got the 16-year-old girl pregnant.

It’s alleged that when police questioned the victim, she told police she had sexual intercourse with two men, her neighbor who’s 22 years old and her uncle.

The neighbor’s case is already pending in the High Court.

The court filing notes that the uncle was also convicted of a sexual assault back in September 1997. The