REMOVAL OF MARY’S STATUTE IN HIGH COURT

Apia, SAMOA — Tavita Sa’u is accused in connection with damaging the statue of Mary at the Congregational Christian Church in Samoa (CCCS) in Si’ufaga Falelatai. The church’s reverend Opapo Soanai says that has his church title has been stripped by elders of the CCCS, for having the statute of Mary at the Church.

Opapo’s daughter is Toaipuapuaga Opapo, the young woman who had the Stigmata around Easter in Samoa, which caught the attention of Samoans all over the globe. Toa has since converted to Catholicism in order to go to the Vatican in Rome where she’s currently with her husband and son.

During the defendant’s second mention in the Supreme Court, Chief Justice His Honor Patu Tiava’asue Falefatu Sapolu ordered the defendant to retain an attorney. The defendant’s case was initially held before the District Court however due to the severity of the charges, which are felonies. The matter was then referred to the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice, postponed the matter to next week and ordered that the defendant to be remanded back into the custody of the police. Sa’u is facing charges of burglary and property damage.

STABBING CASE LINVOLVES STUDENTS

Apia, SAMOA — Supreme Court Justice, Mata Tuatagaloa handed down a sentence in the stabbing case which resulted in two men suffering injuries. Fa’avale Oso’oso was charged with two felony assault charges and each charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment. According to the Police Summary of Facts or the Police Report, on October 2, 2016 the fist victim went to the accused’s house and was swearing and called out to the defendant’s brother to come out and fight with him. The defendant’s brother opened the door and threw a glass cup at the victim and it landed on his hip. The brother fought with the victim and minutes later the victim’s brother arrived and joined the fight.

The defendant who was in the kitchen had a knife and proceeded to stab the victim and his brother. The first victim suffered a cut on upper back close on the back of his neck,  another cut over his left shoulder blade while the second victim suffered a cut on the back of his neck and another cut on the collarbone. The victims and the defendant are from the same village of Leonē and from the evidence during the trial it was uncovered that they are related. 

The first victim is 24 while the second victim is 25 and the victim’s impact report for each victim does not talk of any long term effects of the injuries that were sustained by the victims. The injuries are said to have healed well. The victims confirmed in the victim impact reports that the defendant and his parents have apologized and their parents have accepted the apologies.

The defendant is a 21 year old and is a second year student with Samoa Maritime School. Justice Tuatagaloa points out during sentencing last week that the impression from the pre-sentence report is that the defendant is hardworking at school, trying to get somewhere to help his family. Tuatagaloa notes that there is nothing about any prior incidents that will cast doubt on the accused’s character. This is the first time that the accused has offended. She said that the court frowns on incidents where objects are used in the commission of assaults and especially where injuries are sustained from the use of such objects.

 “This is most important to a close knit community like that of Leonē, for the families to be able to live together peacefully. In the current climate where a lot of youth drop out of school, this young accused, who works so hard at school to get somewhere deserves a second chance. The accused is convicted and a 12 month suspended sentence is imposed for each charge.”