Mother's Day death treated as homicide

By Soli Wilson 12 May 2021, 8:00PM

Alcohol is believed to have been a contributing factor to the death of a man over the Mother’s Day holiday - a case Police are now treating as a homicide. 

The fatal incident, reported from Sagaga No. 4 over, is being treated as a case of foul play by the Samoa Police Service, Deputy Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo has confirmed.

Auapaau told the Samoa Observer that alcohol was considered a factor in the incident. 

"I can confirm the Police are investigating the death of a man from Tufulele," he said in an interview with the Samoa Observer.

"It’s believed that alcohol is a factor according to preliminary investigations but for the time being, the matter is treated as a homicide."

Auapaau said the man was presented to the Leulumoega Hospital with severe injuries, but was later discharged.

"And yes, according to information from the Leulumoega Hospital, the man was taken in for treatment, however was later released," Auapaau continued. 

"It’s unclear how and why the man was released given the severity of the injuries, but that is part of the police investigation." 

This is the second death over the Mother's day long weekend reported by the Samoa Observer after a pregnant woman was fatally hit by a bus on Friday night. 

The mother was waiting for her ride after a bingo game in Faleasi’u on Friday night when she was struck by a bus at about 11 pm. 

Eyewitnesses at Faleasi’u said they believed that the deceased woman is from Nofoalii. 

“The woman was waiting for her car after the bingo finished,” a source told the Samoa Observer on Saturday. They did not wish to be identified.

“It was when she crossed the road to get to her car that was parked in front of the store on the other side that she was struck by the bus whilst it was reversing.”

The woman was in the final trimester of her pregnancy.

“I can confirm that we are currently investigating that case that happened in Faleasi’u,” Auapaau said in an interview on Saturday.

Auapaau said the incident comes at a very sensitive time as it was only the start of the long weekend dedicated to mothers of Samoa but it should serve as a reminder to the public.

“This is a very unfortunate event but we are especially saddened that this unfortunate incident happened on the Mother’s Day weekend,” he said.

“Her utmost safety should have been considered especially when roaming so late at night.

“According to the information passed to us, the incident happened after she was at bingo and while she was waiting for her way home.”

It was the third known death from a vehicular incident within three weeks. 



By Soli Wilson 12 May 2021, 8:00PM

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