Hamilton man Alesana Satele, pictured in Savai'i earlier this year, was murdered while on holiday in Samoa. Photo / Supplied
Hamilton man Alesana Satele, pictured in Savai'i earlier this year, was murdered while on holiday in Samoa. Photo / Supplied
Family of a Hamilton grandfather killed alongside another man in Samoa believe they were the victims of an opportunistic theft "gone horribly wrong".
Alesana Satele, 69, had landed in Samoa on Thursday afternoon but he, and a 42-year-old Samoan man, were brutally killed just hours later by a man usinga machete or large knife.
The grandfather of 12 had flown to his wife's family property for a short holiday and was due to return to spend Christmas with one of his daughters in Christchurch.
But now all four of his daughters are in Samoa, with their mother, organising to bring him home.
The murder took place on the property owned by the wife of Alesana Satele who was killed alongside a Samoan man early Friday morning in Leulumoega. Photo / Google
One of the daughters, who did not want to be named, told the Herald the family had since been told by police that their father's personal belongings were missing when they arrived at the scene.
Satele had arrived at village of Leulumoega, about 6km from Faleolo International Airport, the day before. He had arrived in Samoa having withdrawn his pension of $1000 tala [$567] which was in his wallet.
The 42-year-old family friend had hired the alleged murderer to help him do some odd jobs around the property.
The family had been told by Samoan police the cash could have been a motive for the killing as not only had his wallet been taken but also his passport and other items from the family home.
They had also been told by other locals that the accused was "possibly high on P" at the time.
Satele and the second victim suffered deaths described by police as "horrific" as they'd been told the injuries sustained were mostly likely carried out with use of a machete or large knife.
Satele was killed in the main fale while the younger man was killed in the umu area behind the cluster of buildings which made up the fale.
"My father was a hard worker who taught us the value of education, family and hard work," his daughter told the Herald. "He loved gardening and the property in Samoa reflected this."
The daughter flew over with her sisters and mother as soon as they heard the news on Saturday morning.
Satele's son-in-law, who also did not want to be named, said the killing "seems like an opportunistic burglary gone horribly wrong".
The family had been working on the property with the hope of turning it into a bed and breakfast as it boasted four guest houses, a main fale featuring a kitchen, along with another fale and shop.
Another family member believed Satele would have taken exception to the killer taking his money and stuck up for himself.
"[The alleged killer] has taken the cash or something and [Satele] has been like 'nah, that's mine, you can't take my stuff and it's escalated from there'. That seems the most plausible sort of thing."
