Defendant Maryann Galo who is charged in connection with the death of a woman in Lepuapua on the night of February 16 is being held without bail.
The 33-yr old is accused of stabbing the victim three times with a knife in Lepuapua on Monday night. She faces two counts of second degree murder (one count is under ASCA Sec. 46.3503(a)(2) and the other is under ASCA Sec 46.3503(a)(3)), one count of first degree assault, one count of criminally negligent homicide and one count of public peace disturbance.
Court filings say that around 11:20 on the night of February 16, the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau received a call from the Leone Substation requesting assistance with a stabbing case in Lepuapua village. A female identified as Luisa Sa, also known as Martha/Mata was physically assaulted and had sustained multiple wounds on her body.
The 48-year old victim was taken to the LBJ Hospital by an EMS unit.
The attending doctor at the LBJ Emergency Room informed CIIB investigators that the victim sustained three stab wounds, one below her left armpit near her rib cage, another on her left arm above her elbow and the third wound was on her left forearm. The doctor said the cause of death was due to hypotension shock, and internal bleeding.
A night security officer whom police questioned said he witnessed an altercation between the defendant and the victim. The witness said he also saw a black pick up truck stopping on the main road and it appeared a person inside the truck was talking to the suspect. Then he saw the victim pull the suspect’s hair and physically punch the suspect.
According to court documents, when police interviewed Galo she said that she had gone to her boyfriend’s house to get her belongings but her boyfriend’s dad chased her away from their house. She walked away feeling frustrated and angry and was yelling profanities and the war cry (fa’aumu) while walking near the highway at Lepuapua. She saw a black F-150 truck coming from the east, the truck stopped and asked if she wanted a ride.
According to her story, the victim pulled her hair and punched her face. They fought in an open field across from the Alofa Tunoa Church. According to the defendant, her sister intervened and separated them. She then opened her back pack and pulled out a wooden handle knife. While her sister was standing between her and the victim, she forced her way behind her sister and stabbed the victim three times.
The defendant could not be located that night but was picked up by police the following day.
Galo made her initial appearance in District Court on Thursday.
