Results for From the Courts

The death of Kali Fungavaka was a tragedy for everyone, the Police Commissioner Grant O'Fee said, after hearing the verdict in the manslaughter trial of the five arresting officers at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court yesterday, June 6.

A jury today found Semisi Kalisitiane Manu not guilty of manslaughter, but convicted him on an alternative charge of grievous bodily harm in relation to Kali Fungavaka’s death.

A surgeon specialist told the jury-trial into the death of Kali Fungavaka today that the deceased had sustained head injuries that included multiple skull fractures on the top of his head, when examined upon admission to Vaiola Hospital on August 18, 2012.

The father of the accused civilian Semisi Kalistiane Manu who is on jury trial for manslaughter in the death of Kali Fungavaka, said he witnessed the police beating up Kali at the Nuku'alofa Police Station.

In sentencing Fifita ‘Ofa (35) to 13-years imprisonment for the death of her 14-year-old daughter last August, and imposing prison sentences on two others, a Supreme Court judge said today in denouncing their conduct that the repeated beating of the child by her mother and uncle was extremely cruel, and a paramount sentencing was considered to protect children and young persons from violence.

Final submissions from counsel in the trial of five policemen accused in Kali Fungavaka’s death started today but its publication was suppressed by the judge at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court.

Closing submissions from counsel in the trial of five policemen charged with manslaughter in Kali Fungavaka's death was further adjourned on Wednesday May 7, at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court.

A mother who pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the death of her 14-year-old daughter whom she severely assaulted last August will be sentenced on Wednesday May 7, at the Nuku‘alofa Supreme Court. The girl died of septic shock and multiple organ failure days after a prolonged beating by her accused family members, who then left her without medical care.

The accused Police Constables Salesi Maile and Fatai Faletau had in their Record of Interviews denied assaulting Kali Fungavaka when he was in custody on the night of August 17, 2012 at the Nuku’alofa Police station.