Could murder have been prevented?

I’ve been asked by friends and colleagues of what I think about this Pacific Islander case of Lousa Mataele’s behavioral issues. That if, with appropriate resources, they could have prevented this unfortunate murder. I shared with my colleagues that this particular person is a Tongan and not a Samoan, although the name pronunciation and spelling could be the same including his individual image — it’s not a homogenous group as it appears.

The case outcome is considered based on the evidence provided during the procedures, however, the stance on his mental condition is a big question that should have been strongly considered, as a preventative measure, with appropriate intervention resources for Lousa Mataele that could have prevented this drastic situation because it’s a form of liability. Leading Lousa Mataele to behave as such in this matter, whereby, with appropriate intervention resources can prevent his behavioral patterns with linguistic bilingual and bicultural support. These types of behavioral issues can be prevented, as it’s been proven by evidence-based practice in family and individual development for positive results. The latest Asian and Pacific Islander demographics report released in Sacramento during 2005, indicates emerging Samoan and Tongan subgroups to be the top two in San Mateo County of Pacific Islander populations. The poverty rates for these Pacific Islander subgroups are as follows: Samoans poverty rate at 17 percent and child poverty rate at 19 percent and Tongans poverty rate at 11 percent and child poverty rate at 13 percent.

As identified in your previous articles on this case, clinicians discovered Lousa Mataele has a brain injury and suffers frontal lobe seizures leading into blackouts, mental delays, limitations, etc. These behavioral issues are consistent with the psychologist Dr. Friedman’s findings, aligned with Lousa Mataele’s motherly testimony on his behavior while living with her. Therefore, the stance of his mental condition capacity on "what and how” got him to that point in his life, should have been strongly considered because it can be a liability issue leading into murder within our society of someone behaving as such with limited supportive resources. The question is, could this behavior be prevented and how, avoiding this unfortunate murder situation?

M.F. Chester Palesoo was born and raised in American Samoa. He has been in the human services field for 25 years and served on the Ravenswood City School District Board for 12 years. He lives in East Palo Alto.