31 Oct 2014

Former Tonga police inspector loses appeal

7:18 pm on 31 October 2014

Tonga's Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal from a former police inspector against his conviction and prison sentence over the killing of New Zealand policeman, Kali Fungavaka.

Kelepi Hala'ufia was convicted of manslaughter and is serving an 11-year jail term imposed by a Supreme Court judge earlier this year.

Mr Fungavaka died in custody after being beaten in his cell following a night out in Nuku'alofa in August 2012.

Matangi Tonga reports the four Appeal Court judges made their decision this morning.

In July a former police constable Salesi Maile was jailed for nine years and civilian, Semisi Manu, who was in the cells with Mr Fungavaka, was given an 18-month suspended sentence for causing grievous bodily harm over the death.