Poultry worker's murder trial begins [1]
Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 11:14. Updated on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 - 14:32.
A Tokomololo man, Toluhama 'Ahotau, appeared at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court yesterday, charged with one count of murdering a co-worker at the Vete Poultry Company Ltd. in 2005.
Aged in his twenties, he is accused of murdering Napoleone Hurrell when he hit him on the forehead with a steel bar in a confrontation on the night of December 3, 2005.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the murder charge at the beginning of the jury trial held before Chief Justice Anthony Ford.
Crown Prosecutor 'Aminiasi Kefu told the court in a summary of facts that both men were employees at the Vete Poultry Company at Puke.
It alleged that the accused, the deceased and others were drinking behind their work place and during the course of the night their alcohol finished.
The group then came to the front gate where the security guard was stationed, and they asked for food but there was none, so it was decided they return to their own homes.
It is alleged that Hurrell did not want to go home and the others tried to persuade him but he refused, it then came to a point where the accused got mad and picked up a steel bar and hit Hurrell on the forehead.
The victim was immediately rushed to the hospital but he died the next morning, December 4, due the head injury.
The Crown is expected to call 11 witnesses to give evidence, which they aim to complete this week. The accused is represented by local counsel 'Ofa Pouono.