The suspect in an assault case in Satitoa during the Father’s Day long weekend has had his charge upgraded to murder when the victim died two days later.

The matter of the 39-year-old Talaitau Niue of Satitoa went before the District Court Court on Tuesday due to the initial charge of causing injury.

But it has now been referred to the Supreme Court following the upgrading of the charge against the defendant.

Presided over by Judge Talasa Atoa Saaga, the defendant has been referred to the Supreme Court due to the seriousness of the offence. 

The alleged victim in the case died two days later at the Moto'otua hospital as a result of the alleged assault. 

He was represented by lawyer Ann Matalasi with the prosecutor led by counsel Dacy Sasagi from the Attorney General’s Office.

According to police the alleged incident involving Niue stemmed from a drinking session which turned into a dispute and eventually led to a murder charge. 

The incident was the second murder case reported to the Police during the Father’s Day long weekend. 

The defendant and the alleged victim have no familial relationship. Reports from police at the time noted that the deceased died as a result of severe head injuries 

Niue will appear before the Supreme Court mention on 30 August alongside several other murder suspects from separate incidents that date back to 2017 and 2018. 

On a separate matter during the Fathers Day long weekend a 43-year-old father of eight from Vailele died. 

Niko Tuitamai Niko worked as a carpenter and ran his family’s cattle farm before the tragic incident. 

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, the family of the deceased say they have forgiven the suspect and are keen to forgo the postmortem requirements for a homicide case. 

The brother of the deceased, Nikolau Aperaamo Niko said they want to put it all in the past. 

“It hurts our family so much with what happened to my dearest young brother but we are all Christians,” he said.

“Revenge blood for blood only worked during the time of our ancestors and our family has already forgiven the accused.”