American Samoa Government v. Pitoitua

ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO QUASH AND MOTION TO SUPPRESS

Background

Plaintiff American Samoa Government (“ASG”) alleges that on January 23,2004, defendant Maeli Pitoitua (“Pitoitua”) murdered a fellow inmate and gravely assaulted another at the Tafuna Correctional Facility (“Tcp”). Several days after the incident, on January 27, 2004, Officer John Cendrowski (“Officer Cendrowski”) of the Department of Public Safety interviewed Pitoitua at the TCF and elicited a written statement. On July 8, 2004, the District Court Judge held a preliminary examination hearing on the matter and…