family of slain brothers

Western Samoa

City settles with family of slain brothers

THE city of Compton, in California, has agreed to pay up to SUS 6 million to the family of two Samoan brothers gunned down by a police officer in 1991, the family’s lawyer said. The settlement was reached in May in the civil rights suit filed by the family of Pouvi Tualaulelei, 34, and his brother Italia, 22, said lawyer Jerry Steering.

The brothers were shot 19 times on February 12, 1991, by Officer Alfred Skiles, who was responding to a domestic disturbance call in the Los Angeles suburb. The shooting angered many in the area’s large Samoan community, especially after a criminal trial against Skiles ended in mis-trial in May 1992. Prosecutors contended that after he felled the brothers with nine shots, Skiles coolly reloaded his firearm and shot them at least 10 more times. Skiles, 46, has retired from the force.