Police v Fuimaono [2016] WSSC 197 (29 February 2016)

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF SAMOA
Police v Fuimaono [2016] WSSC 197

Case name:	Police v Fuimaono
Citation:	[2016] WSSC 197
Decision date:	29 February 2016
Parties:	POLICE (Prosecution) AND SOANE FUIMAONO male of Samusu-uta. (Defendant)
Hearing date(s):	-
File number(s):	S3943/15, S3944/15
Jurisdiction:	Criminal
Place of delivery:	Supreme Court of Samoa, Mulinuu
Judge(s):	Justice Nelson
On appeal from:
Order:	Ou te talitonu e tatau foi ona fai sina toesega laititi ona o le tagata na amataina le mea lea o le taule’ale’a. Na muamua alu atu fa’ao’olima ia oe ae pei o lau tali lea na e tago atu loa i le fagu ma fa’atino mea ia. O le a toese le 7 masina mai le 27 masina totoe le 20 masina le taimi e tatau ona e alu e tuli i le toese ona o le solitulafono lenei Soane. Ua e malamalama i le fa’aiuga a le Fa’amasinoga Soane? (Defendant said yes).
Representation:	F Ioane for prosecution Defendant unrepresented
Catchwords:	grievous bodily harm - armed with a beer bottle
Words and phrases:
Legislation cited:
Cases cited:
Summary of decision:

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF SAMOA

HELD AT MULINUU

BETWEEN:

POLICE
Prosecution

AND:

SOANE FUIMAONO male of Samusu-uta.
Defendant

Counsel:
F Ioane for prosecution
Defendant unrepresented

Sentence: 29 February 2016

S E N T E N C E

1. The defendant has pleaded guilty to two charges; one of causing grievous bodily harm and the other of being armed with a beer bottle. The police summary of facts which he has admitted on a previous occasion says he is a 47 year old male of Samusu Aleipata married with one child and tausi aiga. The victim is a 40 year old male also of Samusu, he is the nephew of the defendants wife.
2. On Monday 14 December 2015 the defendant was drinking home brew with friends at his house. The defendant lives at his wifes family at Samusu. The victim joined the drinking party and brought with him according to the police summary four (4) large bottles of Taula. The defendant the victim and friends then continued with their drinking party. Because they were making a loud commotion someone started throwing the roof of the defendants house causing the defendant to start swearing. The victim told the defendant to lower his voice causing the defendant to get angry and tell the victim he owns the land. This made the two of them get into an argument and the victim walked over to the defendant and according to the summary of facts he delivered the first blow by punching the defendant in the eye. The two men then began fighting.
3. Had Soane kept on fighting the victim with his fists he would probably not end up in trouble. Unfortunately according to the police summary of facts he cracked an empty beer bottle and used this to deliver cuts to the victim. The victim suffered two wounds to his stomach and one to the right arm.
4. The medical report notes the cuts to the stomach were deep, the upper one needed four stitches and the bottom one five stitches. The cut to the right arm needed five stitches also. The wounds were serious enough requiring the victim to stay in hospital for three to four days before he was discharged. And as a result of the wounds the victim now has permanent scars. The victim impact report indicates it took about one month for him to recover from his wounds.
5. The charge of grievous bodily harm Soane carries a 10 year maximum penalty. It is a serious charge. The fact that you used a weapon namely a broken beer bottle on an unarmed man means a prison term is unavoidable.
6. Prosecution have suggested that sentencing should start at 5 years in prison. I agree. Peitai e iai toesega e mafai ona fai e le Fa’amasinoga ona o le tulaga lea o loo iai ni mataupu e taulelei ai oe Soane. O le toesega muamua o lou ioe i le solitulafono ua sefe ai foi le taimi a le Fa’amasinoga. Kuata o le fa’asalaga lea la’a toese ona o le mataupu lena. O lona uiga e 15 masina e aveese mai lou fa’asalaga totoe le 45 masina.
7. O lea e lelei le lipoti a le Ofisa Fa’anofo Va’ava’aia mo lau susuga, lea foi fa’atoa molia mai oe i luma o le tulafono. E 6 masina e toese ona o na tulaga lelei mo oe, totoe le 39 masina.
8. E maitau atu foi e le Fa’amasinoga ua maea ona toe fa’alelei le mataupu ma le tausoga lea o lou toalua. Ua maea ona e fa’atoese, ua talia foi e le sa a’afia lau fa’atoesega ma o lea foi e aumai lana talosaga e auala mai le Ofisa Fa’anofo Va’ava’aia e le manao e fa’aauau le mataupu lenei. Ana fa’apea e lē a’afia se fagu i le mea lenei semanu e mafai ona tu’u atu le avanoa lena. Ae leaga o le taimi a lea na e tagofia ai le fagu ta’e lea ma fai ai le gaioiga lea, ua le mafai lona ona alofaga le fa’aiuga o le tulafono. Ae avea ma ou lelei le talosaga a le taule’ale’a lea na tu’u mai. O lea o le a toese leisi 6 masina ona o le fa’aleleiga ma le talosaga lea. Totoe ai le 33 masina.
9. O lea foi ua aumai e le Ofisa Fa’anofo Va’ava’aia ua maea ona fai le fa’asalaga a le tou afio’aga, e sa’o? (Defendant said yes). Ua mae’a ona togisala le tou aiga, toese foi leisi 6 masina ona o le togisala lena. Totoe ai le 27 masina.
10. Ou te talitonu e tatau foi ona fai sina toesega laititi ona o le tagata na amataina le mea lea o le taule’ale’a. Na muamua alu atu fa’ao’olima ia oe ae pei o lau tali lea na e tago atu loa i le fagu ma fa’atino mea ia. O le a toese le 7 masina mai le 27 masina totoe le 20 masina le taimi e tatau ona e alu e tuli i le toese ona o le solitulafono lenei Soane. Ua e malamalama i le fa’aiuga a le Fa’amasinoga Soane? (Defendant said yes).
    

JUSTICE NELSON