Man found guilty of raping wife’s sisters

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 05 October 2017, 12:00AM

A man accused of raping and indecently assaulting his wife’s sisters has been found guilty.

Five Assessors found Siaosi Viatale guilty of five sexual violation charges in relation to the rape of his wife’s sisters. 

The defendant was initially charged with 46 sexual offenses including sexual violation, sexual connection with a minor and indecent assault involving two separate sisters. 

However, as the hearing proceeded, the other criminal charges were withdrawn. 

The verdict was rendered following a three-day Assessors trial.  

Siaosi Vaitale stood in pro-se while prosecuting the case was Senior Counsel, Leone Su’a Mailo, of the Attorney General’s Office. 

Supreme Court Justice, Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala Warren, presided.

She had issued a Suppression Order pertaining to the victims’ details in order to protect their identity. 

But she made it clear in Court the Suppression Order is limited to the informations of the victims but it does not apply to the defendant in the matter. 

The incidents are alleged to have occurred in 2015 on several occasions. At the time, the girls were 13 and 15 years old. 

During the hearing, a separator was arranged by the Court between the accused and the alleged victim.

The younger victim struggled on the stand as she attempted to retell what happened.

The Supreme Court was then forced to take a 10-minute recess for the victim to contain herself.

“The first incident occurred under an ifi tree,” said the first victim. 

“I don’t recall the exact date but I remember it was the beginning of the year.”

According to the young girl, she and her older sister had sex with the defendant under the ifi tree.  

The Prosecutor inquired as to the whereabouts of the mother at the time of the alleged incident and the victim said she was at the hospital. 

The Court heard from the first victim the second incident occurred not long after and this time it was at their house. 

“I was sleeping when he woke me up and instructed me to take off my clothes and then I was instructed to sit on his chest,” said the victim. 

The victim said after the alleged sexual events the defendant instructed her to go back to sleep. His sentencing is pending.

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 05 October 2017, 12:00AM
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