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Man charged with assault after kids tell him mom is with another man

photo of District Court Building in American Samoa
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The 38-year-old man from Nu’uuli who was arrested by police last week and charged for assaulting his wife in front on his children was ordered by District Court Judge Fiti Sunia not to have any direct or indirect contact with his wife and children while this matter is pending.

The defendant made his initial appearance in District Court last Friday morning where he entered a not guilty plea to all the charges against him. The government is charging the defendant with 3rd degree assault; public peace disturbance (PPD) and endangering the welfare of a child, all class A misdemeanors.

After reviewing the police report and the facts of the case, Sunia then released the defendant on his own recognizance, subject to the conditions that he not consume alcohol or possess illegal drugs, and in addition he must find another place to stay and is not go back to his home in Nuuuli while this matter is pending.

Due to the defendant’s illegal immigration status, Sunia further ordered that he be released into the custody of the Immigration Office (IO). According to a report from the IO, the defendant’s sponsor is his wife, who also is the victim in this case.

The government claimed that the matter was reported by the victim’s mother to the Tafuna Police Station around 9p.m. on Thursday night, after she found out from neighbors that her daughter had multiple injuries on her face after her husband allegedly assaulted her.

The Police report revealed that the defendant was working on Thursday morning while his wife and children were at their home in Nu’uuli. The defendant’s work place in Nuuuli is not far away from his home.

Around 10 a.m. on Thursday morning, the defendant’s children walked from their home to their father’s work place and told him that a man was inside their house with their mother (defendant’s wife who also is the victim in this case).

The children told their father that when they returned from the store making their way back home, a man was in front of them. The man walked straight to their house while their mother (victim) was inside the house. The man then opened the front door of the house and entered inside. The man then locked the door and the children were unable to go inside the house.

The children took the man’s sandals that were left outside of the door and took them to their father to confirm their side of the story.

After speaking with his children, the defendant along with his children then walked back to their home. Upon arriving home, the woman (victim) was in the house alone.

It was at this time that there was a confrontation between the defendant and his wife, which resulted in the defendant allegedly assaulting his wife in front of his children, which caused multiple injuries to the woman’s facial area.

According to the government, the woman did not report the matter to police.

The defendant then left the house and went to one of his friend’s houses where they (defendant and his friend) had a drinking session, starting from 11a.m. up until 7p.m.

The government claimed that when the defendant arrived home after his drinking session with his friend, he allegedly assaulted his wife again inside their home.