Woman who stabs husband in neck gets 3-day prison term

A woman, accused of stabbing her common-law husband in the back of the neck with a knife during their drinking session with a neighbor at their residence in Chalan Laulau, has entered a guilty plea and sentenced with a mandatory term of 72 hours imprisonment.

In an order issued last week, Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo sentenced Ana Nepaial Mettao to one-year imprisonment, all suspended except the mandatory 72-hour prison term, for the offense of assault and battery (domestic violence).

Mettao, 56, was given credit for 48 days of time already served in jail. She was ordered to report and register with the Office of Adult Probation by last Monday morning.

Mettao was placed on two years of probation, required to pay all court costs and fees, and ordered not to harass, threaten, or assault the victim, Biro Hamo.

Govendo said the defendant shall remain on supervised probation until completion of anger management, then on unsupervised probation for the duration of the two-year probationary period.

During the probationary period, Mettao will be prohibited from possessing or consuming alcohol or any illegal controlled substances, among other conditions.

Mettao pleaded guilty to the offense of assault and battery (domestic violence), a lesser-included offense to the charge of domestic violence: assault with a dangerous weapon.

According to the plea agreement, on April 4, 2018 on Saipan, Mettao stabbed Hamo, causing him injuries.

Assistant attorney general Teri C. Tenorio appeared for the government. Assistant public defender Heather M. Zona served as counsel for Mettao.

Police said Hamo was taken to the Commonwealth Health Center for sustaining an inch length and a 2-inch deep puncture wound on the neck. He was later released.

Mettao was arrested at the scene.

Police said at CHC’s emergency room Hamo stated that prior to the stabbing he was drinking with Mettao and their male neighbor at their house.

Hamo said Mettao and their neighbor began arguing so he separated them.

Hamo said he took their neighbor out of the kitchen and escorted him outside the house.

He said on his way back into the kitchen, Mettao stood in the middle of the doorway, so he told her to get out of his way.

Hamo said she then stabbed him with a knife once behind his head/neck area.