Husband Pleads Guilty to Wife’s Death

APIA, SAMOA – 09 JUNE 2020:  Sosene Liona, 50 year old of Lalomanu has pleaded guilty to the alternative charge of manslaughter in relation to the death of his wife last year.

Sosene was originally charged with causing injury after assaulting his wife in July 2019 and later changed to murder when his wife died five days later.

He pleaded not guilty to murder and was schedule for a hearing however, he pleaded guilty to the alternative charge of manslaughter yesterday and will be sentenced 01 July 2020.

The victim was admitted to the Lalomanu district hospital on 24 July and later to Moto’otua hospital where she died 29 July 2019.

The incident which took the life of the 52 year old wife shocked the community.

It is one of the many cases of grave physical violence by men against their spouses usually leading to life-long injuries and death.

The husband remains in custody to await sentence.