Chiefs from the District of Falealili and family of the man charged in the murder of a 25 year old male last week, performed a traditional apology or ifoga to the victims in this matter.
The traditional apology was offered early Saturday morning in Lotofaga.
In Talamua’s live footage, saw that the apology was immediately accepted by Chiefs of Lotofaga within minutes.
Four men were covered under the fine mat.
The deceased and the two victims are from Lotofaga.
Among the Chiefs of Lotofaga in attendance was the Sa’o Fa’apito, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa; she was accompanied by High Chief, Tupuola Koki Tuala.
The 51-year-old man charged in the murder is from Tafatafa one of the villages in the Falealili Constituency.
During the traditional apology, a High Chief from Falealili reminded the Lotofaga Chiefs to keep the young men of the village in order and its actions as such lead to unfortunate situations that led to gathering in Lotofaga.
But, the Lotofaga Chief also offered apologies on behalf of the victims who were drinking in Tafatafa on a Sunday and their “unbecoming” actions led to the incident at hand.
At the conclusion of the traditional apology, cultural presentations were conducted and it was accompanied by $10,000 to assist with the funeral preparations for the young man that died.
The families of the two victims who were injured each, received a fine mat and $1,000.
This is in addition to the $10,000 that was given to the Chiefs of Lotofaga as per Samoa’s usual cultural presentations.
The incident occurred last Sunday afternoon, according to Deputy Police Commissioner Auapa’au Logoitino Filipo.
He told Radio Polynesia, men from Lotofaga went drinking at Tafatafa, upon leaving the area, their vehicle was stoned.
It's alleged the three men met the 51 year old man, in which they threw rocks and swore at him; the man went home, fetched his machete and upon return attacked the group of men.
The first victim that died, suffered a cut on his neck due to the severity of his injuries.
The other two were severely injured as well, one suffered a huge cut on his shoulder and the other had severe cuts on his back, said Auapa’au.