A man has been convicted after firing a gun to intimidate others during a road rage confrontation that left a woman, a 12-year-old boy, and a baby in their vehicle terrified.
Tulimi Tuʻitupou, of Fātumu, subjected the victims to what the Court described as a “terrifying” ordeal across two locations on a Fātumu road on 5 July 2025.
The complainant, Sosefina Sili, was seated in the front passenger seat of a vehicle driven by Pelaitia Mataele, while her then 12-year-old son sat in the back holding a baby.
The incident began near the LDS Church, where the victims encountered two stationary vehicles obstructing the roadway—a Nissan X-Trail driven by Tuʻitupou and a truck facing in the opposite direction.
The Court heard that the victims initially waited for the vehicles to move. When they eventually did, an exchange between Sili and Tuʻitupou quickly escalated, with both parties trading expletives before the victims drove away.
Tuʻitupou then pursued the vehicle, cutting across its path near Laulea Beach and forcing it to swerve onto the roadside. He exited his vehicle and approached the passenger-side door, attempting to open it.
When he found it locked, he reached through the window, grabbed Sili by her clothing, and pulled her upper body out of the car.
The altercation ensued, during which verbal exchanges continued. The defendant then pushed Sosefina’s left arm, causing her injury.
The Court accepted evidence that Tuʻitupou stated, “I will punch the shit out of you.”
It further accepted that he said: “You should all [expletive] know that I am the King of Fatumu. When I am in the middle of the road speaking, no one is to interfere. Do you want me to retrieve my gun and shoot all of your tyres?”
The victims were eventually able to leave. Sili’s son then alerted her to the presence of a firearm, which she also observed. She stated that she saw Tuʻitupou place the firearm through his window, following which she heard a gunshot.
Additional gunshots were heard as they drove away and proceeded directly to the Ha’asini Police Station, where a complaint was lodged.
Police officers visited Tuʻitupou that afternoon and found a .22 calibre rifle, a shotgun and cartridges in his vehicle.
The Lord Chief Justice found Sili to be a truthful and reliable witness, although he did not accept that the exchanges—particularly the initial interaction—occurred in the restrained manner she described.
He also accepted the young boy’s evidence as truthful but raised concern about his treatment as a witness, noting that he was vulnerable and eligible for special measures.
The Court recorded its strong displeasure at the Prosecution’s failure to take appropriate steps in this regard. The Lord Chief Justice recommended that members of the Crown Prosecution attend Justice Garlick KC’s lectures on dealing with vulnerable witnesses and, in the interim, familiarise themselves with the relevant protocols.
Tuʻitupou was found guilty on both counts and convicted accordingly. He is yet to be sentenced.
