Police v Maumasi [1998] WSSC 40; Crim No S 508-98 (2 November 1998)

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF SAMOA
HELD AT APIA

CRIM. NO: S.508/98

BETWEEN

POLICE
Informant

AND

HOWARD MAUMASI,
male of Mulifanua
Defendant

Counsel: M Leung Wai for police
R T Faaiuaso for defendant

Sentencing: 2 November 1998

ORAL SENTENCING OF SAPOLU, CJ

Now in assessing what should be the appropriate penalty in this case, the Court takes into account what counsel has placed before the Court in mitigation of penalty on behalf of the defendant. In particular that the defendant has at this early stage pleaded guilty to the charge against him. That he is a first offender and that the victim in this case was his adopted son and the defendant is likely to live for the rest of his life with the thought that his own son has passed away as a result of his actions. The Court also takes into account what is set out in the report of the Probation Service regarding the background and history of the defendant.

On the other hand, the Court also takes into account the seriousness of the charge against the defendant and the fact that the victim was quite young. He was only 8 years of age but the beating that was given to him in my view was quite cruel of a parent given the age of the victim.

I am somewhat concerned about the cases involving child abuse by adoptive or step parents which are starting to come before the Court where the victims are not the natural children of these parents but are either adopted or step children.

In this case for example, what the victim or the deceased had done was bad but when you consider his age, 8 years old, you would expect a child of such an age to do silly things sometimes but that would not justify cruelty from a parent. If a parent does a cruel act and that causes the death of his child, the law says that is prima facie manslaughter and it carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. I also take into account what counsel for the defendant has submitted to the Court that the defendant is truly remorseful for what has happened.

In weighing all these matters including the guilty plea to the charge, the defendant is convicted and sentenced to three and a half (3½) years imprisonment.

T.F.M Sapolu
CHIEF JUSTICE

Solicitors:
Attorney General's Office, of Apia for informant
Faaiuaso Law Firm, of Tamaligi for defendant