6 Aug 2013

Men plead not guilty to killing NZ officer

9:51 pm on 6 August 2013

[b The men accused of the manslaughter of a New Zealand police officer have pleaded not guilty in the Supreme Court in Tonga.

Kali Fungavaka died in August last year from injuries received while in police custody.

The six accused , including five police officers, are each charged with manslaughter and an alternative charge of grievous bodily harm.

Tonga's police commissioner Grant O'Fee says a trial date is yet to be set because some of the men have chosen to have a jury trial while others have elected a trial by judge alone.

Mr O'Fee says the case has been adjourned for a week while the court decides how to proceed.