26 Apr 2008

Fiji-born British Army soldier jailed for killing a fellow serviceman

9:01 am on 26 April 2008

A Fiji-born British Army soldier who killed a fellow serviceman in a bar with one punch last year has been jailed for three and a half years.

The paper, Fiji Times, says gunner Akariva Kaloutani punched Lance Corporal Alipate Tuisawau in a 'completely unprovoked attack' during a drunken night out, a court martial heard.

Witnesses watched in horror as the 30-year-old 'crumpled to the ground like a building collapsing' and died instantly from brain haemorrhage.

Bystanders tried in vain to resuscitate the Fijian before paramedics arrived and rushed him to hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Kaloutani, 26, of 4th Regiment Royal Artillery was arrested by police but claimed he was so drunk that he had no recollection of landing the fatal blow.

He has been dismissed from the army and jailed after he pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter.