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Court Report

AG AWAITS PSYCHIC EVALUATION OF JUVENILE WHO STABBED WOMAN

 

The Attorney General’s Office is awaiting the psychological evaluation which was conducted last week to determine the mental status of a 14-year-old boy who is accused of stabbing a woman numerous times.

 

The juvenile is facing charges of first-degree assault and burglary in the second-degree. Samoa News understands the juvenile who remains at the Juvenile Detention Center since the incident, has been a Special Education student since he attended school. Responding to Samoa News queries if the government will be charging the juvenile as an adult, Assistant Attorney General Terrie Bullinger said most likely not.

 

The psychiatric report is due to be made available in two weeks, said a reliable source.

 

According to the government’s case, the woman was at her home in Tula by herself, while her children and husband were attending church when she was attacked by the victim.

 

Police arrested the juvenile, whose clothing, as well as his hands, were covered with blood. According to the government’s case, the juvenile admitted that he stabbed the woman so many times that he cannot remember how many times he stabbed her.

 

The victim sustained 19 stab wounds on her back, three deep stab wounds on her right side, and cuts on her legs and face.

 

The juvenile is represented by Assistant Public Defender Donna Clement.

 

Samoa News spoke to the victim’s husband, who told Samoa News, “I was shocked to see my beloved wife covered in blood and calling out for help, and this will forever be embedded in my memory.”

 

He further told Samoa News that his wife told him that the defendant had arrived at their house when she was in the shower getting ready for church, and she was shocked to see the defendant walk into their house with a knife, and then he stabbed her many times.  

 

The woman told her husband that she was saved by the neighbor’s dog, who attacked the defendant, and that’s when he took off on foot. Samoa News understands from villagers in Tula the woman may have said something about the juvenile, which may have been motive for the attack.

 

MAN CHARGED IN ASSAULT CASE PLEADS GUILTY TO MISDEMEANOR

 

A man accused of striking another man with a beer bottle, who was facing charges of second degree assault, has entered into a plea agreement with the government. Michael Tui is represented by Assistant Public Defender Mike White while prosecuting for the government is Assistant Attorney General Kimberly Hyde.

 

Associate Justice Lyle L Richmond accepted the plea agreement and scheduled sentencing for the defendant on May 17, 2013. According to the plea agreement the defendant pleaded guilty to third degree assault amended from second degree assault, which is a lesser offense. According to the government’s case, one witness told police that an altercation occurred and the defendant struck the victim on the head with a beer bottle. 

 

MAN FACING MULTIPLE CRIMINAL CHARGES DENIES ALLEGATIONS

 

Andrew Peters, also known as Luaao Andrew Fagota, denied multiple charges against him when he was arraigned in High Court yesterday. The defendant, who was recently released from jail after he was sentenced for burglarizing a taxi and taking off with an iPhone, is facing multiple criminal charges in connection with a robbery last month.

 

These new charges — robbery second degree, stealing, three counts of third degree assault, two counts of aiding a child to posses or consume alcohol, underage drinking, public peace disturbance and property damage third degree — stem from allegations that he gave beer to minors and also attacked one or two people for no reason, the government claims.

 

According to the government’s case, on Feb. 2, 2013, police received a call about young boys and girls drinking in a shack behind a store in Pago Pago. Police arrived at the scene and several juveniles took off on foot, while police were able to hold a few, who were in the drinking session. One of the juveniles arrested mentioned that Peters had bought the beer.

 

The government claims, on the same evening ,a female contacted police to report that Peters had assaulted her friend in front of a store in Pago Pago.

 

It’s also alleged the defendant for no reason slapped a 12-year-old boy, who was in the (same) store to shop. The defendant further then walked over to the store clerk and punched him in the face, then walked over to the beer area and grabbed two beer bottles, kicked the door open and left the store without paying.

 

Court filings say the store video surveillance footage further supported witnesses’ statements as to what occurred inside the store. 

 

Bail for the defendant is set at $50,000. He’s represented by the Public Defender’s office while prosecuting is Assistant Attorney General Camille Philippe.