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Samoa man jailed 21 years for rape of eight-year-old stepdaughter

Samoa Court building
Source: Samoa Observer

Apia, SAMOA — Samoa Supreme Court Justice Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren yesterday jailed a man, who raped his eight-year-old stepdaughter twice, for 21 years.

The 26-year-old man, who blamed the girl for being “seductive” towards him, was found guilty of two charges of rape, one count of unlawful sexual connection and indecent act on a child by a panel of Assessors.

 “She is a child and she was violated in a most cruel way,” Justice Tafaoimalo said in her decision. “An 8-year-old child should not have to go through this ordeal.”

Details that could identify the child were suppressed by the Court. 

While the man’s identity was not suppressed, the Samoa Observer has decided against the publication of his name because it could identify the victim.

During the hearing in November last year, the Court was told the victim does not live with her mother and stepfather.

She only visited them on White Sunday in 2017.  That’s when the offending took place, when the mother had gone to work leaving the defendant with the victim and her younger siblings. 

On both occasions, the defendant had sex with the young girl.

“This offending was premeditated,” she said. 

Justice Tafaoimalo noted that one of the most disturbing aspects of this sentence is that the defendant had blamed the eight-year-old girl for being ‘seductive’ towards him.

 “This is highly implausible and demonstrates an inability to fully accept his actions. Any discount for remorse on his part will be given with this in mind,” she said.

Read more at Samoa Observer