Hayward man must pay $15,000 for double manslaughter

A man from Hayward, Sam Veimau, was sentenced to nine years in prison for killing two brothers during a confrontation. The case has sparked controversy due to the plea deal he received. Veimau, 29, was ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution to the families of the victims, Suiti and Manase Mesui. He shot them in September 2021 but pleaded no contest to two manslaughter charges instead of murder. The shooting took place in Oakland, following a planned fistfight between two groups. Veimau used a pistol during the incident. His defense claimed one of the victims, Manase, had threatened Veimau’s family with a shotgun before the shooting began. A judge noted that the case could face challenges at trial but found no evidence suggesting the shooting was justified. The judge questioned the necessity of firing multiple shots when the confrontation had begun as a fistfight. The victims’ families criticized the plea deal, holding former District Attorney Pamela Price responsible. There is uncertainty about whether she reviewed the deal before it was approved. After the arrest, Hayward police put up a sign at Veimau’s previous home, indicating he no longer lived there. This was due to ongoing violent incidents involving people looking for him, as stated by his attorney. Veimau is currently in a low-security prison and is eligible for release in 2027.