CHILDREN BREAK UP FIGHT AS FATHER BEATS UP MOTHER

A man is charged with six criminal counts in connection with a domestic violence case that occurred in Vaitogi last week. The defendant, who’s a Senior Immigration officer is being held behind bars on bail of $15,000. He’s facing a felony charge of second degree assault and three counts of third degree assault, public peace disturbance and private peace disturbance, all misdemeanors.

According to the government’s case, last week, a woman walked into the police station claiming that her husband had assaulted her. The woman informed the police that on January 2, 2015 she asked her husband for food. It’s alleged that the defendant yelled at his wife and then threatened to kill her if she said anything.

Court filings say that defendant left the bedroom during the argument and returned with a butcher knife approximately six to eight inches long. It’s alleged the defendant swung the knife at his wife and the couple’s 19-year-old son pushed his father away from his mother, however she suffered minor cuts on her hand and neck.

It’s alleged the victim remained at her house that weekend until the second assault that occurred on January 4, 2015. The government’s case claims that defendant was angry when she asked him for a ride to her uncle’s house.

The defendant walked outside, picked up a butter knife and then ran after his wife. The woman called out for help and two of their teenage sons wrestled the knife from the defendant’s hand. It’s alleged the defendant grabbed the victim (the wife) by the neck and released her only when their sons pulled him off.

A family member contacted the police and upon arrival at the scene the woman refused to file a complaint against her husband. However she did request police assistance in retrieving her clothes from their home.

According to the victim, her husband then came to her aunt’s house that same day and stood outside the door ringing the doorbell for 30 minutes. The victim refused to open the door because she was scared of her husband and she subsequently filed a complaint against her husband.

The next day, police picked up the defendant. It is alleged that he admitted assaulting his wife and tried to stab her with a knife. He also admitted that he chased his wife with a knife and his two sons stopped him from further hurting his wife.

OFFICER CHARGED TOGETHER WITH INMATES WILL HAVE PX HEARING

Police Officer Fatu Enari and the three TCF inmates who are charged in connection with the unauthorized transporting and unlawful release of inmates to Alofau last week, will have their preliminary examination hearing, where District Court Judge Elvis Pila Patea will determine if the government has sufficient evidence to have this matter bound over to the HIgh Court.

Bail for Officer Enari is set at $15,000 on charges of aiding the escape of a prisoner, permitting escape and tampering, second degree, while each of the three inmates are charged with one count of escaping from confinement.

According to the government’s case, police received information that the TCF’s black Ford passenger van was parked on the family property of one of the inmates found with Officer Enari in the van, in Alofau. It’s alleged the van was not authorized to be there. During the investigation, Enari told the Detective that Lieutenant Fasi Taase, the night Commander who’s also the Assistant Warden, had authorized him to drive the inmates to Alofau. Court filings say that Lt Ta’ase denies authorizing Enari to escort the inmates.