A man who has been in prison for 17 months for having sexual contact with a woman was freed last week, after a High Court jury acquitted  him of all charges.

During the two-day trial, which opened Tuesday, the government called four witnesses while the defense called one witness, a friend of the defendant.

The government’s case against Siaosi Laulu, stems from an alleged Dec. 7,  2015 incident in which he is charged with one count each of first degree sexual abuse, sodomy, first degree burglary and second degree burglary — all felonies.

However, a two-man and four-woman jury found Laulu not guilty of all charges last Thursday afternoon and he was released from custody following the verdict.

Laulu’s attorney Public Defender Douglas Fiaui had argued that the government lacked sufficient evidence to prove its case.

The first witness was the victim, who told the jury of the many times the defendant allegedly acted inappropriately towards her including an incident where the defendant allegedly touched her buttocks and encouraged her to have sexual acts with him.

Twice, she said, her boyfriend witnessed the inappropriate actions; and she recalled a  Nov. 13, 2015 party where the defendant allegedly touched her  buttocks.

The victim and her boyfriend were residents in the same apartment-type home as the defendant and his wife. 

The victim also recalled for the jury as to what occurred the morning of Dec. 7, 2015 when the defendant forced his way into the bedroom. The victim’s boyfriend also testified of the time the victim called him about what had happened.

After the alleged incident, the victim called her boyfriend, as well as another couple whose apartment room is next to theirs to say what happened. However, when questioned by the defense, it appeared the boyfriend and the couple only knew about the incident when they came home.

The defense also asked why it took the victim five hours after the alleged sexual assault had occurred to call the police. The victim responded that she wanted to talk to her boyfriend first before calling the police.

Police Det. Seanoa, who led the investigation, told the jury that there was evidence to prove the charges against the defendant.

However, Fiaui asked whether any evidence was collected as proof, from inside the bedroom, where the alleged sexual contact was made, to which the witness said no.

During cross examination of government witnesses, Fiaui attacked the lack of physical evidence or any other evidence to prove the charges against his client. Fiaui noted the only evidence presented by the government were statements from government witnesses.

The defense’s sole witness was Laulu’s male friend, Vili Upu, who was with the defendant the morning of Dec. 7, 2015 when the alleged sexual assault occurred. He told the court that he didn’t witness any incident that morning involving the accused and the victim.

Upu explained that he and Laulu were sitting in front of the apartment building when they saw the victim walked towards the restroom and she later returned, heading back to her room.  He said he didn’t see anything that would show that there was an incident between the victim and Laulu.

Additionally, he also didn’t hear any arguments or anyone screaming, which is a sign that something is happening.

In the end the jury sided with the defense.

The jury trial was presided over by Acting Associate Justice Elvis P. Patea and assisted by Chief Associate Judge Mamea Sala Jr., and Associate Judge Tunupopo Faleafaga.

The case was prosecuted by assistant attorney general Bob Pickett.