Police v Faulalo [2017] WSSC 19 (27 February 2017)

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF SAMOA
Police v Faulalo [2017] WSSC 19

Case name:	Police v Faulalo
Citation:	[2017] WSSC 19
Decision date:	27 February 2017
Parties:	POLICE (Prosecution) v FILI FAULALO male of Leulumoega and Tafaigata (First Defendant) and MICHAEL TOLEAFOA male of Tafaigata (Second Defendant) and LEUMA SAKALAKA male of Faleaseela and Tafaigata (Third Defendant) and PULE LIULAGI male of Salelologa and Tafaigata (Fourth Defendant).
Hearing date(s):	15 February 2017
File number(s):	S2763/15, S2764/15, S3061/15, S3062/15, S2765/15
Jurisdiction:	Criminal
Place of delivery:	Supreme Court of Samoa, Mulinuu
Judge(s):	Justice Nelson
On appeal from:
Order:
Representation:	O Tagaloa for prosecution Defendants unrepresented
Catchwords:	-
Words and phrases:	Burglary and theft - escape
Legislation cited:
Cases cited:
Summary of decision:

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF SAMOA
HELD AT MULINUU

BETWEEN:

POLICE
Prosecution

AND:

FILI FAULALO male of Leulumoega and Tafaigata.
First Defendant

AND:

MICHAEL TOLEAFOA male of Tafaigata.
Second Defendant

AND:

LEUMA SAKALAKA male of Faleaseela and Tafaigata.
Third Defendant

AND:

PULE LIULAGI male of Salelologa and Tafaigata.
Fourth Defendant

Counsel:
O Tagaloa for prosecution
Defendants unrepresented

Hearing: 15 February 2017

Decision: 15 February 2017

Sentence: 27 February 2017

S E N T E N C E

1. Pule and Fili were found guilty after a defended hearing of breaking and entering into the house of Ken Newton of Ululoloa the complainant in this matter. Break-in occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday, 29 June 2015. A Galaxy tablet valued at $1,600 was taken together with some solar lights valued at $300 and cash lying on the kitchen table. The victim impact report shows the tablet was recovered but not the other material. It is confirmed by Prosecution counsel that the sum of $260 was returned by the defendants to the Police. I note the victim impact report says about $350 was claimed to have been stolen.
2. One other defendant Tui Samuelu was also involved in the break-in. He assaulted the complainant but these defendants were not charged as being party to that assault even though they clearly were and should have been so charged. So you are for sentence today Pule and Fili only on the burglary and theft. Your co-defendant Tui was sentenced by Justice Tuatagaloa to 21 months in prison for his part in the burglary and 6 months for the theft concurrent to the burglary term which was cumulative to Tuis other prison sentence.
3. As you all have extensive records Pule and Fili for burglary and theft you can consider yourselves fortunate. Like Tui these defendants are also young professors of Tafaigata University. But I note as stated that you have not been charged with the assault on the complainant and it would not be fair to give you a larger prison term than was given to the defendant who committed the assault on the complainant. I also do not take it against you that you pleaded not guilty because you did not understand the legal ramifications of your role in this burglary and theft.
4. O lona uiga o le aofaiga o mataupu uma nei Fili ma Pule e tatau ona faalaititi atu ai le faasalaga e faasaga ia oulua lo le 21 masina lea sa tuu i le tama lea o Tui. Mo oulua la, ua faamaonia le lua solitulafono pau le lua faasalaga e 18 masina mo le talepega fale lea. E tatau ona tuli ese le faasalaga lea o le 18 masina ma faasalaga lea e tuli e oulua i le taimi lenei i le toese.
5. Ua faamaonia foi le solitulafono o le gaoi, e 6 masina le faasalaga ae tuli faatasi le 6 masina ma le 18 masina. O lona uiga o le aofai e tuli mo le mataupu lea o le talepe fale ma le gaoi e 18 masina a le tagata e toatasi. Ua lua malamalama? (Defendants said yes).
6. Sei tulai mai isi tama e toalua lea na aafia i le solaaga mai le falepuipui. Ia outou uma na tou ioe i le sola ese mai le falepuipui. Sa aafia ai foi ma le taulealea lea o Tui i le sola’aga lea. Ma o le faaiuga a le tamaitai faamasino lea na faataatia atu mo Tui e 4 masina. E le tatau la ona see ese le Faamasinoga mai le fuainumera lena aua o outou na tou sosola mai i le taimi e tasi. E leai se mea o le a ese ai le faaiuga a Tui ese outou. E 4 masina foi la le tou faasalaga mo le sola ese mai le falepuipui.
7. Tou te laki o Tuatagaloa na faia le faaiuga, leaga e tele tou solitulafono i le mea lea o le sola ese mai le falepuipui. Ana fai e Vui e tele atu ai le faasalaga. Ae ua tou manuia, o le 4 masina lea na maua e Tui o le 4 masina foi lena lea laa tuu atu ia outou. E tuli ese la le 4 masina lea mai isi tou faasalaga ona e ese le solitulafono lena, ese isi solitulafono lea e aafia ai tou susuga. E iai seisi e fia fesili i se mea e le malamalama ai? (Defendants said no).

JUSTICE NELSON