Sentences for policemen on July 1 [1]
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 17:47
Four men, including three policemen convicted of manslaughter and assault in relation to the death of New Zealand police officer Kali Fungavaka, will be sentenced on Tuesday, 1 July.
Inspector Kelepi Hala’ufia and Constable Salesi Maile, who are in custody, were found guilty of manslaughter by Mr Justice Cato on June 6, at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court.
Constable Fatai Faletau, who is on bail, was convicted on a lesser offence of assault.
Two other policemen Manu Tu’ivai and Tevita Vakalahi were acquitted on all charges by the same judge.
Meanwhile, the civilian Semisi Kalistiane Manu, who punched the deceased inside the prison cell was convicted of grievous bodily harm by a jury in a separate trial, on May 30.
The victim sustained multiple skull fractures, subdural hemorrhage and contusions to his brain after he was fatally injured in police custody. He later died at Vaiola Hospital on August 23, 2012.
He was arrested with a relative outside a Nuku’alofa bar after a drinking episode on the night of August 17, 2012.