A prison inmate who has been at Tafaigata since the age of 16 yesterday received an additional four and a half years to his already existing prison term, for stabbing a man at a house he was burgling.
Peika Pesa was sentenced and convicted yesterday on three counts of theft and burglary, one count of being in possession of a dangerous weapon and actual bodily harm.
The decision was delivered yesterday by His Honour Chief Justice Patu Tiavaesu’e Falefatu Sapolu in the Supreme Court. His prison term is to be served consecutively with that of his already existing prison terms.
The Police summary of facts stated that on 5 November 2013 Pesa was escorted by Police to the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital (TTMH). He told prison wardens that he was feeling sick. That same day he escaped to the house of a family at Leufisa. Pesa tore the wire screen on the windows of the family house and stole $50, 2 mobile phones worth $150 each and other properties.
These stolen items were valued at $2,445. Two days later, on 7 November, he broke into the house of another family at Lalovaea, the court heard. This theft was at 3am in the morning while the couple who owned the property were asleep in their room upstairs.
The woman suddenly woke and saw someone standing at the door but thought it was her son.
<!-- samoaobs_headline -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:300px;height:250px"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-9419815128221199"
data-ad-slot="5353984075"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>{/googleAds}
She called out and only then realised it was a thief. Alerting her husband, he chased after Pesa who made for the door leading out of the house.
The woman’s husband caught him climbing the fence and assaulted Pesa. But Pesa reached into his pocket for a small knife and stabbed him. The stab wounded the man causing him to head back to the house, the court heard.
On 9 November, he broke into another family’s house at Vailima and stole property from there. Reviewing the criminal history of the accused, Chief Justice Patu said he is used to committing these offences. It seems that he is frequently breaking into houses and stealing property.
He is a person who is not new to the court and to prison. He was first imprisoned at the age of 16, back in 1996.
The Chief Justice pointed out Pesa’s previous convictions; 23 for burglary, 23 for theft, 3 of breaking and entry, one of attempted burglary, seven of escaping from prison and other offences involving illegal drugs.
The crimes he has committed indicate the kind of dishonest person he is. Chief Justice Patu said the offences carried out by the accused are very serious considering the impact it has had on those affected.
Especially serious is the offence he committed against the family at Lalovaea where he used a small knife causing injury to the husband.
He said there were no mitigating factors on his part but for his guilty plea.
The court would be delivering a heavy penalty against him for the seriousness of his crimes, said the Chief Justice.
google_ad_client = "ca-pub-2469982834957525";
/* Bottom Articles */
google_ad_slot = "5910176767";
google_ad_width = 468;
google_ad_height = 60;
//-->
</script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script> {/googleAds}