27 Dec 2012

Sixth man charged over fatal beating in American Samoa

2:17 pm on 27 December 2012

A sixth defendant has been charged in American Samoa in connection with the fatal beating of 30-year-old Sio Chico Faumui last year in Malaeimi.

Faafetai Siaulaiga made his initial appearance in the District Court on Monday and is facing a charge of criminally negligent homicide.

The prosecution is based on new information received by the Attorney General's Office where two witnesses claim they saw Faafetai running away from where Faumui was assaulted.

The witnesses told authorities that Faafetai's shirt and hands were covered in blood.

The victim, a part-time commercial driver and mechanic, was found by passers-by lying unconscious near the main road in Malaeimi after being beaten by several men.

Three of them, Neemia Poamo, Sefo Siaulaiga and Migo Misa have pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and their sentences will be handed down next month.

Two others, Mathew Alesana and Viane Ah-Mu, believed to have started the altercation that ultimately resulted in Faumui's death, were each sentenced to 30 days in jail and probation for public peace disturbance and underage drinking in District Court last June.