A dispute over the use of mobile phone credit sparked an attack that resulted in the death of a 16-year-old boy from the village of Samusu-tai.

Contrary to reports that the young man died as a result of a fight caused by social media comments, the Police Spokesperson, Maotaoalii Kaioneta Kitiona, yesterday set the record straight.

He said the incident on Sunday has left families and friends of the two boys involved in a state of shock.

“From our investigation, the deceased boy gave his cell phone which had credit to the 14-year-old defendant so he could download some music on his phone,” said Maotaoali'i. 

“What happened was that the phone was returned to the owner with no credit and no music also.”

Maotaoali'i said this angered the deceased man who provoked his alleged killer into a fight.

During the fight, the boy who has been charged retaliated using a rock.

“He threw a rock which hit the other boy on the head,” he said.

“From what we’ve been told, what had happened was an accident. 

The accused boy didn’t think that what he did would kill the 16-year-old.

“But when he saw the deceased collapse, that’s when the accused realized that he hit him hard.” 

The 14-year-old has since been charged with murder. He is scheduled to appear in Court on the 23rd of May 2016.

Suicide attempt 

In a separate incident, neither the Police nor the Hospital would comment on an incident of attempted suicide where a girl is fighting for her life at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital.

The Samoa Observer was told the girl attempted to take her life as a result of comments on Facebook. She is a serious condition at the Moto’otua hospital.