American Samoa policeman shot dead outside court

Campbell Cooney, Pacific correspondent

Last Updated: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:47:00 +1000

A police officer has been shot dead outside the High Court in the Amercian Samoan capital of Pago Pago.

The police officer was shot, after a local man had been acquitted of assault and weapons-related offences.

A reporter from local radio station KHJ was at the court interviewing the defendant's attorney at the time and recorded the shooting.

The shooter has been identified as a relative of the defendant and after shooting the police detective, he continued assaulting the detective on the ground.

It's understood it is the first time in at least 30 years an American Samona Police officer has died in the line of duty.

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