The attorney for Epifania Tauai, Director of the American Samoa Historic Preservation Office, Neil Connors, believes the government‘s case against his client is “a bit overblown.”
Tauai is charged with third degree assault and public peace disturbance, both misdemeanor charges.
Court filings state that on the morning of February 16, the defendant allegedly punched the arm of a cashier at Kruse’s store in Leone. According to the government’s case, she allegedly grabbed a metal office stapler and attempted to strike the cashier with it. She, then, grabbed a metal shopping cart and rammed it into the cashier’s stomach.
Tauai appeared for a status hearing Thursday, and the court was informed that she has retained private attorney Connors to represent her.
A pre-trial conference is set for April 8.
Connors said the government’s allegations as stated in the affidavit will be hard to prove because it was not shown on the video that is being used to back up the prosecution’s case. He said, “I’m optimistic we can resolve this case quickly.”
