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Another domestic violence case in court — this is the 4th recent case

American Samoa District Court building
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man accused of assaulting his wife in front of his two young children in Nuuuli was arrested and appeared in court last week. This is the fourth man arrested and charged with domestic violence against women recently.

The defendant, a 46-year-old man from Samoa, made his initial appearance in court last week. He is charged with 3rd degree assault and disturbing the private peace inside his home, both misdemeanors.

The defendant was released on his own recognizance during his initial appearance under the usual conditions including staying away from his wife and children and to find another place to stay while his case is still pending.

Pretrial conference is Aug. 10th at 8:30a.m.

The defendant was arrested and transported to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) for questioning after police received a phone call from his wife, saying that she was assaulted by her husband (defendant) at their home in Nuuuli on Monday night, July 11th around 10:21p.m.

As police approached the family house, they observed a woman and her two young children walking on the road. The woman was seen crying while carrying her one-year-old daughter. The woman was later identified as the victim in this case.

The victim told police that she advised her husband (defendant) about his alcohol consumption and requested that he stop wasting their family money on it. Their income is not enough to take care of the family and also supply him with alcohol, she said.

The wife’s actions did not sit well with the defendant. He bought a case of beer and had a party with his friend at the friend’s house. He returned home very intoxicated and started a verbal argument with his wife resulting in an assault against her in front of his three young children.

When questioned by police, the defendant stated that he did not know anything. All he knew was that he was having a good time with his friend at his friend’s house. He also told police he doesn’t know why he was arrested by the two police officers who came to his house.

Court record shows that the defendant was convicted for 3rd degree assault four years ago.