Department of Public Safety Commissioner William Haleck is dismissing allegations that Arthur 'Afa' Christopher Blake was assaulted inside the Tafuna Correctional Facility, in response to Samoa News queries.

Samoa News had received calls indicating that the murder suspect had sustained injuries to his face.

Blake is accused in the brutal murder of Lopeti Kalala Veukitau, a Tongan National, who migrated to the territory some time ago.

The defendant, who is being held on $500,000 bail — one of the highest bail amounts ever set for a defendant in the territory's judicial history — was in court yesterday for his preliminary examination hearing, however his attorney Assistant Public Defender Karen Shelley asked the court for a continuance.

District Court Judge John Ward granted the continuance request and set another PX for Monday.

Blake is charged with first degree murder, a felony which is punishable by death, or life imprisonment without parole until 40 years of the sentence have been served.

Prosecuting this matter is Assistant Attorney General Camille Philippe.

Samoa News contacted the Commissioner after receiving calls that Blake may have been assaulted in TCF, given the injuries to his face.

In response, the Commissioner told Samoa News “they are self inflicted injuries, he’s being held in maximum security, by himself. No one is housed with him and he’s not in contact with anyone, for safety reasons.”

Haleck further noted that as soon as defendant’s attorneys at the Public Defender’s office and the Prosecutor brought this matter to their attention "we notified the Emergency medical Services to check on Blake" and as result, Blake is doing fine.

The Commissioner further noted that the defendant stated that the injuries were self inflicted. He said that TCF guards are taking precautionary measures to assure that the defendant does not hurt himself. Witnesses told Samoa News the defendant had burn injuries to his face.