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Stabbing victim released from LBJ, his alleged assailant pleads not guilty

American Samoa District Court building
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 42-year-old man was charged last week in District Court after he allegedly stabbed another man at a friend’s house. The victim sustained wounds on his left arm and shoulder and was admitted to the surgical ward, because the knife’s blade penetrated the joint area of his arm.

During his initial appearance in court, Filipo Mikaele entered a not guilty plea to the single charge of private peace disturbance, a class A misdemeanor.

The government’s attorney, however, informed the court that additional charges will be filed against Mikaele this week after police conclude their investigation, which includes interviews with eyewitnesses who were at the alleged crime scene when the incident occurred.

The additional charges, according to the prosecutor, will include a felony and other misdemeanor charges related to the unlawful use of a dangerous weapon.

The court set a bond of $1,000 for Mikaele; however, if the additional charges net a felony count, the bond amount will be increased.

If the defendant is able to post bond, the courts says he subject to the usual conditions, including he is not to be armed with a dangerous weapon.

THE CASE

According to the court affidavit, it was 4:28 p.m on June 8, 2020 when the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a call from a nurse at the LBJ Hospital Emergency Room (ER), reporting a man being treated and admitted after being stabbed.

When police approached the victim at the surgical ward, according to the court affidavit, at first, the victim declined to file a complaint against Mikaele, because he said this isn't the first time he has assaulted him and he fears that he will hurt him again if he files a complaint against him. The victim lives on the defendant’s land and in his house.

According to the victim, he moved to his friend’s house in Taputimu about five days prior to the incident because Mikaele came to his house drunk and instructed him to leave his house and land. On the day of the alleged stabbing, Mikaele showed up at his friend’s house very drunk, and insisted on talking to him outside about why he had moved to his friend’s house without notifying him.

During the conversation, the defendant allegedly accused the victim of spreading rumors that he (Mikaele) is involved in burglarizing two homes in their neighborhood. This led to a verbal argument between the defendant and the victim, which led to Mikaele suddenly stabbing him in his arm and shoulder. The victim told police when he realized Mikaele had stabbed him, he tried to ask him why, but Mikaele took off and left him in shock.

When questioned by police at the TPS, Mikaele denied stabbing the victim, saying he cut himself while arguing with the victim and when the victim tried to confiscate the knife from him, he accidentally stabbed himself.

The court affidavit notes that investigators could smell a strong odor of alcohol on the defendant’s breath and his eyes were bloodshot red.

The victim was at the hospital for three days before he was discharged last Friday.

The defendant is scheduled to appear in court this Wednesday to face additional charges the government anticipates filing against him.