The case of a 35 year old mother has been bound over to High Court after the District Court found probable cause to support charges of assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
Samoa News reports that initially, a neighbor reported to police that the mother was assaulting her 12 year old son with a tree branch on January 29, 2021.
Police picked up the woman for questioning and she admitted she had beaten her son because he disobeyed her instructions to stay home and watch over his younger siblings.
When she returned home her children were all outside but her son was at their neighbours house.
Police told her she was not under arrest and that she could leave any time she wanted.
However, on February 15 police received a call from a woman at Malaeimi claiming she had been assaulted by another woman who was later identified as the defendant.
According to the victim, the assailant had come to her home and assaulted her by pulling her hair and punching her face.
Officers observed that the victim’s face was swollen and had scratches.
The defendant faces one count of child abuse and one count of 2nd-degree assault along with one count of endangering the welfare of a child.
In the second case, the defendant is charged with one count of 2nd-degree assault, along with one count of trespass.
Bail of $20,000 was challenged by the defendant’s attorney but the court said that bail is reasonable and the defense can take up their argument for bail reduction before the High Court.
The woman, whose name is not disclosed to protect the identity of her son, is to appear in High Court on April 16.
