Mother charged for the death of her 13 year old daughter

Editors Note: Changes have been made to this story as there were factual errors in the original.

By Talaia Mika

APIA, SAMOA – 08 DECEMBER 2022: A young mother will appear in court next Monday to answer the charge of murder for the alleged death of her 13 year old daughter.

Deputy Police Commissioner, Papalii Monalisa Tiai Keti said that the 13-year-old is alleged to have died from a head injury after her mother threw a stone that hit her on her head.

The thirty-seven-year-old mother has been charged for murder and has been remanded on bail to await her court appearance on 12 December.

Papalii explained the incident happened at the end of last month where the mother was beating her 11 year old daughter who ran away from her. The mother then resorted to throwing a stone that missed the 11 year old but accidently hit the 13 year old daughter on the head.

The daughter was injured on a Friday and the mother brought her to the hospital the following day when she realised that she wasn’t looking well.

Specialists at the hospital operated on her head on the day she was brought to the hospital but she passed away four days after surgery.

Papalii added that initial findings by police identified internal bleeding as the cause of death.

The incident has been reported as the national efforts continue during the 16 Days of Activism to stamp out violence against women and children at home.