A second witness has testified that Muliagatele Brian Lima only punched his ex-wife because she stepped in front of the man he was aiming for.
“Brian was exchanging words with the other man and (he was) headed towards him (who was) standing next to Sina,” said Fualaga Tafua.
“It was then that Brian lifted his hand to punch him when Sina crossed over in front of the man and (Brian) hit her unexpectedly.”
Mr. Tafua was giving evidence after a warrant for his arrest was issued on Thursday following his failure to appear as a defence witness.
He was the last of three defence witnesses to give evidence in the country’s most high profile assault hearing.
However, part of his evidence contradicted that of an earlier witness, Elena Swanney, about whether or not their view of the fight was hidden by a parked car. Mr. Tafua was sitting on the seawall waiting with Mrs. Swanney for a taxi when the fight broke out.
<script async src="http://www.samoaobserver.ws///pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- 300 x 600 - Large Skyscaper -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:300px;height:600px"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-9419815128221199"
data-ad-slot="6181566413"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
From what Mr. Tafua recalls from the 12th December 2013, he saw a woman getting out of a car and screaming for help.
It was the loud noises that sounded like a dispute that got him wondering what was going on.
He stood on the seawall with Mrs.
Swanney to see who it was.
Mr. Tafua then saw Lemalu walking towards Y-Not Bar and coming back with security guards.
“One of them tried to stop Brian,” said Mr. Tafua.
“But he couldn’t hold Brian back who managed to free himself from the fat security man.”
He claimed to have only had two to three bottles of Vailima beer that night, and that the clubs were closing when the fight broke out.
They could see clearly because there were no cars parked in front of them, he said. But this was disputed by Prosecutor, Su’a- Mailo, who pointed out that Mrs. Swanney had told the Court there was a car parked in front of where they were sitting.
Mr. Tafua was asked if he disagreed with that evidence.
“I don’t disagree with her evidence but I’m telling you what I saw that night, there was no car in front of us,” he said.
Mr. Tafua was also asked by Mrs. Su’a-Mailo if he went to help Lemalu when she called out for help.
“No I didn’t,” he said. “I only wanted to know what was going on.”
He was not asked about Muliagatele hitting Lemalu or her male companion with a bottle, as earlier alleged by police.
The former Manu Samoa player and coach has pleaded not guilty to two charges of intent to cause grievous bodily harm, two alternative charges of actual bodily harm, throwing dangerous objects, possession of a dangerous weapon and threatening words.
The trial has been adjourned for 23rd May for final submissions from the prosecutor, and defence lawyers Monique Va’ai and Ruby Drake.
The decision will be delivered on the 30th this month.
Her Honour Justice Ida Malosi is presiding.
<!-- 336x280 (bottom-article) -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:336px;height:280px"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-2469982834957525"
data-ad-slot="1033882026"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>{/googleAds}