Court appearance for two policemen facing manslaughter charges [1]
Friday, March 14, 2014 - 17:56
Two policemen charged with manslaughter in relation to the death of ‘Inoke Pepa (20) in 2012 will appear on April 1, at the Nuku‘alofa Supreme Court.
Sosefo Masalu and Samisoni Taufa, who face an alternative charge of grevious bodily harm, will be arraigned to enter their pleas before Mr Justice Charles Cato. Trial dates will also be set.
This is the first time the accused policemen will appear at the Supreme Court after their case was committed from the Magistrate’s Court for trial.
The Crown alleges that an assault by the two police officers on the victim led to his death on November 16, 2012 at Vaini village.
Meanwhile, the trial of five other policemen charged with manslaughter in relation to the death of New Zealand police officer Kali Fungavaka is set to begin on March 31, at the same court.
Kali died while under police custody, in August 2012 in Nuku'alofa.