Monday, May 20, 2013
Man rejects plea offer in fatal shooting of police officer in American Samoa
POSTED: 05:29 p.m. HST, Jan 06, 2012
LAST UPDATED: 09:33 a.m. HST, Jan 07, 2012
PAGO PAGO, American Samoa >> A man accused of fatally shooting an American Samoa police officer in 2010 has rejected a plea offer.
The Samoa News reported Siaumau Siaumau Jr. also requested a 60-day continuance so his family can find a new attorney after his lawyer withdrew from the case for medical reasons.
Siaumau told Associate Justice Lyle L Richmond at a hearing in High Court Thursday that his family spent more than $20,000 on his last lawyer and needs time to come up with the money for a new lawyer.
Richmond ordered the public defender's office to provide legal representation for Siaumau, saying the case has been pending too long.
Siaumau is facing 14 counts, including one count of murder in the first degree.
Prosecutors are seeking death penalty for Siaumau.
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