Valaulu sentenced to 2 years in prison for the death of church minister Photo by Nicki-G
By Unumoe Esera
APIA: 17 Oct 2011: The 26 year old man responsible for the death of a church minister Fa’aesea Opetaia Liu from Alafua, Siusega and Vaoala, was brought to justice this afternoon before the Supreme Court.
Valaulu Alosio Amituanai, of Letogo and Vaoala was found guilty of manslaughter and was sentenced to 2 years at Tafaigata prison.
According to the police summary of facts on th 25th April, 2011 the deceased was returning from a picnic and stopped at Myna’s store at Vaoala. The deceased was drunk and he saw the defendant standing at the entrance of the store waiting for a transfer of credit. There was no evidence to say the defendant was drunk.
The deceased who was in a vehicle with his friends called out to the defendant to come do his shopping even though they were not acquaintainces. It was more a demand than a request. The defendant came over to the car to get the money but something must have happened, the deceased snatched back the money and pushed the defendant back and called out for someone else to do his shopping.
An employee of the store heard him call and came out to get the money and to do the pastors shopping. The deceased left straight after.
The defendant who was angry at the deceased’s behaviour toward him went after him. One of the defendant’s friends saw what was about to happen and told him not to go after the deceased but he did not heed his advice.
He approached the deceased and grabbed his right hand and punched him on the left side of his jaw. The deceased fell on the ground and the impact of the fall caused blood to flow from his head. Bystanders placed the deceased on a truck and took him to the hospital. When he arrived for treatment he was pronounced dead. The doctor said it was caused by internal bleeding in the brain.
The defendant was arrested on the same day and he admitted he had punched the deceased because he was angry he had asked him to do his shopping but he was a stranger.
“This is an unfortunate case where a life has been lost needlessly,” said Justice Vui Clarence Nelson.
Justice Nelson took into consideration that the defendant was remorseful and regretful of his actions and an ifoga had been carried out and fully accepted by the family of the deceased who had forgiven him for his actions.
unumoe 