The jury trial of Erasi Valusaga accused of causing the death of a Futiga chief Namu Tuamasaga Aetui in April last year got underway this morning.
A panel of six will decide whether or not Valusaga, a father of two, is guilty of manslaughter and second degree assault.
In his summation of the case, prosecutor Russel Smith took the jury back to the afternoon of April 9th when the alleged manslaughter took place and read a statement by the defendant to police.
The defendant was tending to his banana plantation next to as house being built for his family when he heard a car honk.
The deceased who was driving the car was heard telling carpenters to stop the work they were doing on the house.
The defendant said the saw his father approach the deceased and an argument started.
The defendant saw that the lead carpenter was holding his father back.
The prosecutor also read a statement by a passerby identified as Simi.
Simi said he saw the lead carpenter and the defendant’s father arguing and while they were arguing the vehicle belonging to the dead man abruptly reversed with screeching wheels.
Simi said he saw the vehicle head back towards the house being built and it looked as if the driver was aiming for the lead carpenter and the defendant’s father.
Seeing this, the defendant ran towards the vehicle, opened the door and started punching Namu until he was unconscious.
The victim’s daughter arrived at the scene to take her father to the hospital.
He never regained conscience and passed away two days later at the hospital.
According to the doctor’s report the deceased suffered from brain hemorrhage.
Defense Counsel Marchellus Tala Uiagalelei put to the jury that on the day of the incident his client had to do something to save someone’s life.
He said his client served the deceased who was their family matai and understood well respect in the culture for their chiefly leaders.
At the same time someone had to so something to save the life of someone whom the matai had placed in harm’s way.
In this instant it was the defendant’s father that he was protecting.
Counsel Uiagalelei also made the point that it’s the duty of parents to take care of their children but on that day, the roles were reversed and his client was protecting his father.
The defense counsel said his client didn’t have to do it but someone had to protect his father.
Presiding at the trial are Chief Justice Michael Kruse Associate Judges Fa’amausili Pomele and Muasau Tofili.
