16 May 2013

Appeal hearing in Tonga manslaughter case set for June

3:17 pm on 16 May 2013

Two policemen and a civilian accused of the manslaughter of New Zealander, Kali Fungavaka, while he was in police custody last year, have appeared in the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.

Matangi Tonga reports that a trial date won't not be set until two appeals regarding the case are heard on June the 24th.

One of the accused, Inspector Kelepi Hala'ufia, is appealing against the result of a preliminary enquiry at the Magistrates Court in February, which committed Mr Hala'ufia and two others to trial in the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the Crown is also appealing against the same decision, which allowed three co-accused to walk free because of insufficient evidence against them.