Mother shielded by daughters

Press, 28 September 1988, Page 10

Mother shielded by daughters

PA Auckland Three girls clambered on top of their mother to shield her from their axe-wielding father, the District Court at Auckland was told yesterday. Minutes earlier the children had seen him hit her about the body with a coffee table until it smashed. Mulipola Tutasi Isarelu, aged 33, a New Lynn taxidriver, yesterday changed his pleas to guilty on charges of assaulting his wife, Fuanatala Isarelu, with intent to injure her on June 1 and threatening to kill her on the same day. Sergeant Huon Watt told the Court that after an argument, Mrs Isarelu suggested her husband stay elsewhere. She packed some of his clothes and asked him to leave the house. He threatened to kill her. Sergeant Watt said Isarelu grabbed his wife by the hair, threw her on to the floor and kicked her in the arms, stomach and ribs numerous times. A short time later the defendant returned with an axe and approached Mrs Isarelu who was on a couch. With the axe raised, Isarelu said to his wife, “Don’t make me mad again or I will kill you.” Sergeant Watt said the three girls climbed upon their mother to cover her. Isarelu dropped the axe and punched his wife about the head. Isarelu told police he had assaulted his wife because he was “mad.” Judge Lawson convicted Isarelu on both charges and remanded him on bail for a probation report and sentance on November 1.