Kali Fungavaka died from blunt force head trauma, after suffering multiple injuries ranging from multiple skull fractures, subdural haemorrhage and bruising to his brain, neck trauma with bruises to other parts of his body, a New Zealand forensic pathologist's report revealed.

Dr Fintan Garavan, in his evidence on Thursday, April 17, the eighth-day of trial into Kali's death, presented a power-point presentation with pictures of the fatal injuries found during the post-mortem carried out some seven-days after the injuries, in Auckland.

He said the injuries included the multiple skull fractures, subdural hemorrhage and contusions or bruises to the interior of the brain in multiple areas, neck injuries including bone fracture and bruising inside, bleeding on the right eye with multiple bruising and abrasions on other parts of his body.

The pathologist agreed with the Crown Prosecutor ‘Aminiasi Kefu that the skull fractures, the subdural hemorrhage and contusion to the interior of the bottom part of Kali’s brain were the main significant injuries to the main cause of death.

He said a second contributor that did not directly cause the death but contributed to it, was the trauma or injuries inflicted on the neck that indicated strangulation or choke-hold. He also said that at the time of writing up his report a lot of the information was not available to him.

The pathologist found a large fracture on the top of the deceased skull. The fracture was depressed extending to the back from the front. He indicated a point of impact that pushed down to the brain. The fracture was 15cm from front to the back and the C-shape part of the fracture was 4cm.

He also identified the subdural hemorrhage on the bottom of the brain.

Other injuries

The pathologist said because he did the post-mortem seven-days after, he identified there was a healing abrasion to the inside of Kali's left upper lip that represented a blunt force trauma. There was also bruise to the left anterior of his chest which was quite large measuring 9x9cm representing at least one blunt force trauma inflicted to the area, he said.

He was asked whether this could have been caused by using the end of a torch to poke the chest. The witness said it was a possibility.

He pointed out a healing abrasion on the right mid part of his back that represented a blunt force trauma either inflicted by a strike [or other cause], and there was also significant bruising to the back of the left hand and on the palm surface of the same hand, the court was told.

The manslaughter trial of five police officers, before Mr Justice Charles Cato will continue at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court next week, after Easter.

Police Inspector Kelepi Hala‘ufia and Police Constables Salesi Maile, Tevita Vakalahi, Manu Tu’ivai, Fatai Faletau who elected to be tried by judge alone, have pleaded not guilty to manslaughter with an alternative charge of grievous bodily harm.