Tevita Taufa Vaka (23), was found guilty on a charge of causing grievous bodily harm, when he appeared in the Nuku'alofa Police Magistrate's Court on November 11.

He was one of two men who had been held in custody since September 7 following the death of Semisi Ma'u who was stabbed to death at Ma'ufanga on September 5.

Police Magistrate Salefi Mafi dismissed a murder charge against Tevita Vaka after a preliminary inquiry on November 6. A doctor, Siale 'Akau'ola, told the court that the victim, Semisi Ma'u, bled to death from a stab wound which punctured his heart. The court was told that Semisi Ma'u fought Tevita and another man after they had been at the Billfish Bar.

The legal counsel for Tevita, Samiu Vaipulu told the court that Tevita did not use a knife during the fight, and he called for the murder charge against Tevita to be dismissed.

Police Magistrate Salesi Mafi dismissed the murder charge against Tevita, but he was later found guilty on a reduced charge of bodily harm. He was fined $200 to be paid within two weeks or twelve months imprisonment in default.

Meanwhile, the other accused man was remanded in custody to appear in the Supreme Court on January 14 for a jury trial.