Samoan man found guilty of attempting to kill his defacto partner

A Samoan commercial farmer and father of three, Peter Tulaga, has been found guilty of one count of attempting to murder a 35-year-old single woman who was in a defacto relationship with the defendant.

The verdict was delivered by a five-member jury after a six-day trial which ended with a visit by the presiding judge, the jurors and lawyers to the crime scene.

The defendant has also been found guilty of one count each of possession of a dangerous weapon and possession of an unregistered firearm.

The 12-gauge pump action shot gun was used by the defendant to commit the offence which was the result of a domestic dispute.

During the trial the prosecution told the court the defendant shot her when she wanted to end their relationship.

The woman was shot in the face last January and is now in New Zealand for an operation on serious facial wounds