WOMAN CHARGED IN STABBING OVER THE WEEKEND

An incident that occurred last week last Saturday in Malaeimi in connection with an assault matter led to the arrest of Linda Talimatasi, who’s charged with third degree assault and private peace disturbance.

The defendant made her initial appearance in the District Court on Monday where she entered a plea of not guilty to the charges filed against her. According to the government’s case, this matter was reported to the police when a woman was taken to the hospital for treatment of stab wounds.

Police responded to the call and they were told that the victim had been assaulted by two females. The victim told police that two women came to her house while she was sleeping, and one held her down while the other cut her hair and stabbed her.

The victim further told the police that when she looked up she saw the defendant slapping her seven-year old daughter three times and chasing her out of the room. Police were told the defendant was staying in Pava’ia’i and the police proceeded to look for Talimatasi.

Court filings say that when the police officers approached the defendant, she immediately admitted, “It was just me" who went to the victim’s house and cut her hair and stabbed her with a knife.

Bail for Talimatasi 26 is set at $1,000.  She’s represented by the Public Defender’s office.

FA’ALIGA AIOLUPO CHARGED IN ASSAULT CASE

A Vailoa man who attempted to cause physical injury to another man by using an aluminum pipe was arraigned in High Court earlier this week. Fa’aliga Aiolupo is charged with second degree assault, a felony punishable up to five years in jail, and public peace disturbance, a class A misdemeanor which carries a jail term up to one year in jail, a fine up to $1,000 or both. During the arraignment the defendant denied the charges filed against him.

According to the government’s case, on Apr. 8, 2014 the victim walked into the Leone Substation, reporting an assault case that occurred on the same day.

It alleges the victim showed up with a noticeable cut to the top of his head. The government’s case claims that the victim told police that he had moved into his aunt’s house in Vailoa and that the defendant is his neighbor. Court filings says that the victim was walking between the defendant’s house and his aunt’s house when he was approached by the defendant, who was carrying an aluminum pipe.

It's alleged the defendant became angry and struck the victim on the top of his head with the pipe, and the victim started to feel nauseated, and began to bleed.

Defendant admitted that he told the victim he was not allowed to stay at his aunt's house. Defendant said that he got mad when the victim said that defendant did not have the right to chase him (victim) away, so he hit the victim with a pipe. The defendant said that the pipe came from a military cot.

LAND DISPUTE CASE SETTLED IN PLEA 

District Court Judge John Ward urged Tuilefano Vaela’a to seek assistance from the office of Samoan Affairs whenever there are land dispute cases involving him, and told him not handle these matters on his own. Ward said the Samoan Affair's Office main duty is to handle matters such as this one.

Under a plea agreement signed with the government the defendant pled guilty to public peace disturbance, a misdemeanor. Court filings say that the incident occurred on October 28, 2103 over a land dispute. The defendant admitted that he threatened the complaining witness in this matter.

District Court Judge John Ward pointed out to Tuilefano that he knows very well that the matter before him is connected to a pending case in High Court and Tuilefano should  keep the peace.

The defendant has been placed on six months probation on the condition that he keep the peace in his village and remain a law abiding citizen. Tuilefano was further ordered not to engage in disturbing the peace or threaten the complaining witness involved in this matter.

Tuilefano was ordered to pay a $100 fine and $500 restitution, to pay for the shack belonging to the complaining witness, that the defendant damaged. Ward advised the defendant to seek assistance from the Office of Samoan Affairs regarding the matter that’s before the District Court.