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Father arrested for allegedly choking son who couldn’t remember his Bible verses

A father has been arrested and charged on allegations that he choked his ten-year-old son for not memorizing his Bible verse for the upcoming White Sunday next month.

 

The father is currently charged with public peace disturbance and endangering the welfare of a child, both misdemeanors, however the Attorney General’s office is looking at filing additional charges against the defendant, given the severity of the incident. In the interest of protecting the identity of the victim in this case, Samoa News will not name the father.

 

The defendant made his initial appearance in the District Court yesterday, and his bail has been set at $1,000.

 

According to the government’s case, the incident came to light after it was reported to the Social Services by the school that a student was seen with severe bruises on his body. Social Services contacted the Department of Public Safety Monday morning and police officer Maria Penetusi was assigned to investigate this matter.

 

Court filings say that police observed faintly visible bruises on defendant’s left eye, scratch marks on his back, bruises beneath his right armpit and bruises around the minor’s neck.

 

Police interviewed the 10-year-old boy, who told police that his father beat him up because he could not remember his Bible verse for White Sunday. 

 

According to the government’s case his father wanted him to recite his memory verse over and over, and struggling to remember, he was sent by his father to the back of the house to practice reciting the memory verse.

 

It’s alleged that minutes later, his father called him back to recite his verse, however the boy struggled to remember, and his father then slapped the boy causing his head to hit the wall.

 

Court filings say that the father pinned the boy’s head against the wall and slid his hands down the boy’s neck, choking him.

 

The boy told police that he cried and struggled for air and cried out to his father to stop. “His father released his grip from his neck and continued to beat him again, where this father squeezed the sides of the boy’s stomach. The boy’s brand new tank top was torn by his father.”

 

The government’s case claims that the mother arrived home and saw her son sitting on the floor crying while her husband was cutting his hair. The couple argued about the haircut and the boy said, his father told him, “if he’s not going to be smart, this is what he’s getting.” The boy further told police that after the haircut, his mother took him away, gave him a bath, dressed him and made sure he went to bed.

 

The defendant entered a plea of not guilty to the charge yesterday morning and a status hearing has been scheduled for this matter later this week. Presiding over this matter is District Court Pro Temp, Fiti Sunia.