Apia, SAMOA — Fourteen year old Talei Justina Kelsall, daughter of the late Sa’u Justina Sa’u Lam, testified in court how her mother was violently abused by her step father, Kolani Junior Lam who stands trial for Sa’u’s murder.

It is day one of the trial of Kolani Junior Lam who is facing a murder charge, alternative charges of manslaughter, common assault in respect of his step daughter, possession of narcotics and conspiracy to defeat the cause of justice.

Kelsall who referred to the defendant as Kiuga during her evidence, said her mother was violently abused by Kiuga, and recalled an occasion where Kiuga threw a pot at her mother’s head. She recalled that her mother and Kiuga were arguing over Kiuga’s photo with another woman while he was in New Zealand.

Kelsall remembered that night when they were about to go to sleep when they heard the sound of broken glasses. They went outside and she saw her mother throwing stones at empty bottles. She said she rushed to her mother’s side trying to comfort her, when Kiuga grabbed her and threw her inside the kitchen where she sprained her ankle and fell to the ground.

“Kiuga then grabbed a knife and a hammer and walked to where my mother was and I yelled for help, it was then Fitu, a neighbour came and took the knife and hammer away from Kiuga.”

Kelsall also told the court one time when Kiuga was angry with her mother and he tried to choke her inside her bedroom.

Kelsall testified that she remembered well how angry Kiuga was when she made her half-sister cry.

“He held my neck, and lifted me until I was on my toes, and I heard him say that he is the boss of the house, and I have no right in the house because he owned everything. I felt the pain, and I began to run out of breath from the strangle,” she said.

According to Kelsall, all of that happened when her mother was in New Zealand giving birth to Giovanni.

In cross examination, defense counsel told the witness that the accused will give a different version from what she said.

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