Samoa’s ‘most evil thug’ says sorry

By Pai Mulitalo Ale 23 July 2016, 12:00AM

The evil thug dubbed as Samoa’s most dangerous criminal, Lauititi Tualima, yesterday apologised for his behaviour.

“I apologise for what I have done,” he said. 

“I was wrong, and I am deeply sorry. I will accept whatever punishment the court hands down.”

Tualima made the brief apology before Justice Lesatele Rapi Vaai when he appeared for sentencing in relation to the attack on an Australian couple and the rape of an Australian woman who was holidaying in Samoa last year. Justice Lesatele adjourned sentencing until 19 August 2016 to give him time to consider the submission from the Prosecution.

But he revealed that the National Prosecution Office is seeking an additional 20-year-jail sentence for the notorious prison escapee.

Tualima pleaded guilty to three counts of rape, one count of burglary, one count of robbery, a charge of threatening to kill and one of being armed with a dangerous weapon. 

All charges are related to the attack of a Tasmanian couple at the Lupesina Treesort on 24 September 2015.

According to the summary of facts, Tualima was accompanied by Prison Wardens at the hospital on 23 September 2015 when he managed to escape. He made his way to Tiavi where he spent the day.

During the early hours of the next day, he broke into the room occupied by the tourists who were due to catch a flight back to Australia that morning.

The summary says that the rape victim, Angie Jackson, was about to shower when she saw the defendant. He held up a pair of scissors and threatened to kill her if she screamed. 

Tualima demanded cash and their cell phones and they gave him what he had asked for. But he wasn’t satisfied.

He then tied up the couple and raped the woman while her husband looked on.

The lives of the couple were only spared when the Manager of the Treesort checked on them as they were late for their taxi to the airport. 

As for Tualima, he managed to escape that night with some of the couple’s belongings. 

On 5 October 2015, Tualima was recaptured.

Asked about the attack, he admitted that it was him, the Police summary said.

By Pai Mulitalo Ale 23 July 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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