Ruling he hopo - Kali Fungavaka Fungavaka death a tragedy for all Saturday, June 7, 2014 - 17:38 Nukualofa, Tonga 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. “I’m pleased for the family that they are able to put a line under this terrible tragedy at last, but there are no winners out of this,” he said. “We’ve got lives that have been ruined.” Two police officers were found guilty of manslaughter, one was found guilty of common assault, and two officers were acquitted of all charges by Mr Justice Cato. The judge noted the Crown’s submissions that “this case was a profound prosecution for law enforcement in Tonga involving the prosecution of five police officers.” Police Commissioner Grant O’Fee Police Commissioner O’Fee believed that it was a good verdict but commented that the death was also “an absolute tragedy for the Tonga Police and the kingdom. It’s a tremendous blow to our reputation,” he said. “The only good thing is that we brought these people to justice, the Tongan police did that, and I did not have to bring in New Zealand Police or Australian Federal Police to help us. It was the good work of Deputy Commissioner Faoa and his team, so I guess the public of Tonga can take some satisfaction that we arrested our own, we put them before the court and we didn’t have to get someone else to come in and do it for us,” he said. The police now have closed circuit television in the cells, and officers were undergoing a leadership programme with the Australian Federal Police. Prosecution Director of Public Prosecutions, ‘Aminiasi Kefu. Tonga’s Director of Public Prosecutions, ‘Aminiasi Kefu, said that justice had been served “but again it’s a difficult case for the country.” ‘Aminiasi said it was not easy to prosecute the police in a small community. “Some of those officers I’ve actually worked with on other cases, so it was difficult but we have got to be professional and keep our independence; we have done our role and there has been a result,” he said. Attorney General, Neil Adsett Neil Adsett, the Attorney General said he was sure that the trial had been conducted properly. “There was no suggestion anywhere along the line that it’s been other than a fair and normal trial.” “We have an independent prosecution service that the Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) run, and you need to get your evidence and once you have your evidence, whether people are policemen or politicians or lay people makes no difference to us,” he said. Family Cally Ruahe Cally Ruahe, the mother of the Kali Fungavaka’s five children, came to Tonga from New Zealand to hear the judge’s verdict on Friday. “His verdict has brought so much relief to me. I could tell by Judge Cato’s synopsis that he thoroughly took all the evidence into account … and hearing ‘guilty of manslaughter’ that just took a big load of my shoulders.” She said that her five children aged between 6 and 13 years, were still mourning the loss of their father. “It is hard for them to comprehend the reasons why their father suffered such a violent death at the hands of these men, and I have a nine year old son who has special needs who constantly reminds me every day that his father was killed by policemen,” she said. “It’s been a very traumatic experience for them. I have taught my children that for every action there is a consequence and it’s important for me to hear that these men who are in authority face the consequence of their actions, which resulted in Kali’s death.” “But the verdict will never bring Kali back,” Cally said.
Posted on: Mon, 09 Jun 2014 16:48:59 +0000
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