Man charged with manslaughter by negligence over death of passenger [1]
Tuesday, August 9, 2011 - 21:03. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
A 43-year-old civil servant from Niutoua has been charged with manslaughter by negligence and driving under the influence of alcohol in a government car, following the death of a female passenger at Lapaha on August 1.
Acting Police Commissioner Taniela Faletau said on August 9 that the passenger, a 47-year-old female, also from Niutoua, had died at the scene. According to medical authorities, she died from multiple fractures to the chest area and head injuries, he said.
He also confirmed that the car was government car driven by the man accused was travelling northwards along Taufa'ahau Road and collided with the back of a heavy equipment vehicle parked on the left side of Taufa'ahau Road at Lapaha.
The accused is to appear at the Mu'a Magistrate's Court tomorrow, August 10.
This increases the death toll for 2011 to five compared to six for the whole of 2010, said the Acting Police Commissioner.
Crimes
Meanwhile, the police recorded a total of 49 crimes was registered last week from August 1-7, which is a decrease from the 69 recorded the previous week.
He said out of 49 crimes reported, assault and theft was the most reported crimes with 14 followed by seven housebreaks, three wilful damages and one manslaughter by negligence.
Central Police station recorded the most crimes out of the 49 with 40 followed by Mu'a with six while 'Eua and Pangai, Ha'apai with one each.