Court hears harrowing account from young girl

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 20 April 2017, 12:00AM

A 19-year-old girl has told the Court about how her mother allegedly stood by while another man forced himself upon her in a sexual manner. 

The details emerged in the Supreme Court yesterday where the man is facing charges of attempted sexual violation and indecent assault. He has pleaded not guilty.

The victim’s mother is charged as a party to the offense. 

Supreme Court Justice Vui Clarence Nelson, who is presiding, has issued a suppression order on the defendant’s name, to protect the identity of the victim. 

The mother is represented by lawyer, Diana Roma, while Masoe Charlie Vaai, is representing the male defendant. 

Prosecutor Lucy Sio intends to call four other witnesses aside from the victim who testified yesterday morning. 

The girl was 15-years-old back in October 2014 when the alleged incident happened.

Speaking in Samoan, the girl said she was sleeping with her younger siblings when her mother woke her up, telling her to go and sit next to a man on a chair.

The victim obliged, got up and sat next to the male defendant. The mother proceeded by telling her to move closer to him (male defendant) and she did. 

The victim alleged the mother then instructed her to go with the male defendant to the back kitchen and again she did as she was told. 

She said while she went to the kitchen, her mother continued conversing with the man and after a while the man came to where she was sitting on the dining table and kissed her. 

At the time, she called out to her mother asking why she was letting this happen. 

“I can’t believe that you don't love me,” she said to her mother. 

The Court heard from the victim’s testimony the mother was sitting on a chair playing with her phone. 

According to the victim, not long after, her mother came to the kitchen and instructed the male defendant to stop and he did. The victim stated that afterwards, the man left with her mother while she was crying.

Not long after her mother returned and went straight to bed and did not say anything to her about what had allegedly occurred. 

The victim testified that she had moved to live with her step-father’s cousin whom she called her grandparents and while she was there, her mother paid her a visit. 

The mother asked the grandparents if she could take the victim to her (mother) sister’s house. The mother along with the victim was dropped off at the market to wait for a bus, and they waited for a long time before the male defendant showed up. 

The victim testified that the man wanted to take her (victim) to Savai’i, but she didn’t want to go. Not long after the man gave the mother $100 and the mother again asked the victim to go to Savaii with the male defendant. 

The victim refused. 

It’s alleged that another $50 was given to the mother. 

The victim informed the court that the man left for Savaii and she didn't go. Prosecutor Sio, asked the victim if she had told anyone about the incident and the victim said yes.

 She said she spoke to her stepfather’s sister the day after the incident.

According to the victim, she was visiting her aunt who asked her as to why the male defendant was at their house the night before. 

The victim told her aunt of the incident. Not long after the mother showed and the auntie confronted the mother. 

The victim said when they returned home, her mother beat her up and asked her why she spoke about what happened. 

During cross examination, Masoe put it to the victim that her written statement does not match what she was saying.

The hearing continues.

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 20 April 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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