After two days of bench trial, Judge Ramona V. Manglona found Jeremy Togawa Sasamoto, 37, not guilty, and discharged the defendant after the hearing.
The judge also exonerated Sasamoto’s $2,000 bail.
Manglona ruled that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Sasamoto did not act in self-defense when he punched Dr. Edgar Gordon Tudor, a veterinarian at the Paradise Island Veterinarian Animal Hospital, in Oct. 2009.
Tudor suffered a cut above his left eye.
“I want to say that I feel vindicated and I’m happy for my mother and for the many people who feel wronged and disrespected by Mr. Tudor. The people of the CNMI should not have to be subjected to a person like him. Justice was served,” Sasamoto said in an e-mail to the Variety.
Shortly after the hearing, Sasamoto told reporters, quoting his lawyers’ closing arguments: “You don’t pick a fight and lose, then complain to the principal,” referring to Tudor.
Sasamoto, who was accompanied by his mother and family members, said they would go to the church after the hearing.
Sasamoto, Public Health’s immunization program manager, was represented by attorneys Robert T. Torres and Michael N. Evangelista.
When sought for comment, Assistant Attorney General Tiberius Mocanu, the prosecutor, said they “respect” the judge’s decision.
Assistant Attorney General Shelli Neal also prosecuted the case.
Manglona, in her ruling, cited CNMI v. Demapan, wherein the CNMI Supreme Court ruled that when a defendant presents evidence of self-defense, the burden shifts to the prosecution to disprove self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt.
According to Torres, “Jeremy presented self-defense testimony from himself, two police officers, and his mother that he was not the initial aggressor; that the threat was imminent; that he used reasonable force; and that the force was not more than was necessary. [Judge Manglona] found the elements were met and found him not guilty.”
Torres added, “Mr. Sasamoto appreciates the court’s attention and consideration of the evidence. We respect the government’s view but we disagreed with the facts, and the court found the evidence supported Mr. Sasamoto’s testimony. We make no further comment about the complaining witness or what happened, except to say that every person deserves to be treated with the utmost respect and consideration at all times. On this we all agree. Jeremy is relieved to conclude this matter and move on with his life.”
The incident happened outside Tudor’s clinic in Chalan Laulau.
Sasamoto wanted to get the medical records of his mother’s dog that died after being treated by Tudor.
Sasamoto said he was very upset at Tudor for the way he treated his mother at the clinic and for the death of her dog.
