5 May 2005

Canada police can't investigate murder of Tuvalu sailor

7:37 am on 5 May 2005

Authorities in Canada say they can't investigate the death of a sailor from Tuvalu, who they say was murdered on board a tanker in the North Atlantic.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation quotes police as saying Manoa Talavalu died in a homicide off Newfoundland.

Police say Mr Talavalu died in an altercation on the 24th of April, while the tanker was outside the jurisdiction of Canada.

The tanker, Nordscot, docked in Newfoundland two days later.

Canadian law requires the flag state to assume responsibility for an investigation.

The tanker is registered in Liberia.

Mr Talavalu's body is reported to have been returned to Tuvalu.