Wrong Samoan man may have been charged

A wrong Samoan man could have been charged for the alleged sexual assault and robbery of a 17-year-old girl following new DNA evidence.
Police in Australia have now charged another Samoan seasonal worker in Australia, a 25-year-old as a new defendant for the sexual assault and robbery of a teenage girl in New South Wales.
ABC News reports that the 17-year-old girl was allegedly ambushed and sexually assaulted at 7:30 pm on 10 November at Arrawarra Headland, north of Coffs Harbour.
As the new defendant appeared before Magistrate Hugh Donnelly, the prosecution said the new defendant was working as an agricultural worker under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, residing in a camp with fellow PALM workers in Arrawarra.
Earlier this month, the Australian police arrested a 25-year-old Samoan national at Dirty Creek as the second person to be charged over the alleged assault.
Meanwhile, the 34-year-old Samoan man was charged on November 13 but police say the charges against him were now being reviewed as DNA 'significantly changed' investigation.
In Coffs Harbour Local Court, police prosecutor Jack Chaffey said the results of DNA testing involving the original defendant had "significantly changed" the police investigation.
The new defendant does not speak English and required an interpreter throughout the proceedings.
Police alleged at the time of the assault that a mobile phone belonging to the alleged victim was stolen.
In court today, Mr Chaffey said the new defendant was charged after police tracked the missing phone to his residence using the Find My iPhone function.
He said the man's DNA was then compared with a sexual assault kit completed by the victim, resulting in a match.
A female DNA profile was also allegedly found on clothing at the accused's address, which was seized by police and identified by the victim.
Mr Chaffey alleged the man had committed multiple "heinous" and violent sex acts against the victim during a protracted assault.
"The victim made efforts to fight back and call for assistance, but was physically overpowered," he said.
The man's lawyer, John Hennessy, said his client refuted the police facts and would seek to challenge the charges at a later date.
While arguing for bail, Mr Hennessy said the original defendant had become a target in jail, where he was allegedly physically and sexually assaulted.
Mr Hennessy said his client had never met the alleged victim and had moved to a new address in Grafton where he resided with others employed as berry pickers, including the original defendant charged in the matter, who had since been released on bail.
He said it would be "almost impossible" for an interpreter to be ready at "the beck and call of a barrister" throughout the proceedings, which he estimated could take between 12 and 18 months.
Magistrate Donnelly refused bail, citing a significant risk of the defendant failing to appear for the proceedings if released.
The man will reappear before Coffs Harbour Local Court in March.
