Dangerous weapon charge filed vs man who chased wife with axe dismissed

The Office of the Attorney General has dismissed the charge of assault with a dangerous weapon filed against Gui Fang Lai, a 42-year-old man accused of beating up his wife for not giving him money, chasing her with an axe, and breaking items at a Susupe restaurant using a samurai sword.

The OAG instead filed an amended information charging Lai with only assault and battery and disturbing the peace.

At a pre-trial conference on Wednesday, assistant attorney general Shannon Foley, counsel for the government, submitted in court a request for leave to amend the information.

In the government’s request, Foley explained that after careful review of additional discovery provided by the Office of the Public Defender last June 21, the OAG now asserts that it is in the best interests of the Commonwealth to dismiss the charge of assault with a dangerous weapon.

Foley said the Commonwealth asserts that dismissal of assault with a dangerous weapon decreases the maximum exposure to imprisonment Lai is faced with.

Foley added that the proposed amendment does not necessitate additional discovery.

Thus, Foley contended that this amendment will neither unduly prejudice Lai nor compromise the proceedings.

Assistant public defender Matthew Meyer, counsel for Lai, had no objections.

Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho granted the government’s leave to file the second amended information.

Camacho vacated the jury trial set for July 18, 2016, and instead set a bench trial for that day at 9am.

According to the second amended information, on March 20, 2016, on Saipan, Lai pulled the victim’s hair, swung a chair at her causing scratch marks on her hand and slapped her on the mouth causing a swollen lip. The act allegedly disturbed the victim’s peace.

Police said the victim had a bruised lip and scratches on the left hand and on the top of her left shoulder.

Police said according to the victim, Lai asked $700 from her but she refused. He later asked for $1,000, but she refused. He asked for $350, but she refused again.

Lai allegedly got mad and pulled her hair, swung a baby high chair at her, but she blocked it with her hands. He then slapped her on the mouth.

The victim ran out of the restaurant toward Joeten Susupe because he chased her with an axe.

Last March 23, Lai allegedly came with a sword and was swinging it left and right. He kept shouting and hit ceramics and glass cups on the table with the sword in a restaurant.

Police arrived and arrested Lai, but inside the police car, he allegedly kicked the window of the police vehicle.