Tavake Fungavaka passed away on the afternoon of Saturday, May 3 at Vaiola Hospital, his sister Sulieti Tu’akoi confirmed to Matangi Tonga this morning.

Sulieti said Tavake who was in his 60's was admitted to the hospital last week on Monday, April 28, after feeling ill and he had a heart condition.

“He passed away at around 3:05pm on Saturday. We are planning to hold his funeral at our home at Fua’amotu on Friday, May 9. Meanwhile, his body is kept at the hospital mortuary,” she said.

Tavake, who lived in the United States, had arrived in Tonga in March for their elderly aunt’s funeral. He then stayed on to attend the trial into the death of his son Kali, she said.

Tavake attended the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on April 8 for the first day of the trial against the five accused policemen. He attended court that week but was not seen in court over the last few weeks.

The trial of the accused policemen who are facing manslaughter with an alternative charge of grievous bodily harm continues in Nuku'alofa. Submissions from counsel were due to be given today but a defence counsel who is still sick required another adjournment to tomorrow, May 7.

Kali who was fatally injured while in police custody had died at Vaiola Hospital on August 23, 2012. Family members who are attending the trial, including Kali Fungavaka's wife Audra, and mother, Rosemary, from New Zealand, have been visibly struggling to listen to the evidence, and at times leaving the courtroom to sit outside.