State witness takes stand

A STATE witness yesterday testified he saw a police officer exchanging punches with the late Joseua Lalauvaki outside Totogo Police Station in the early hours of September 2 last year.

Alifereti Gade, 26, a member of the Poll-Friend for the Suva Market Police Post, said he saw Selema Tikoenaburevere throw two punches after they had disembarked from a vehicle which had transported the victim and three others to the station from a nightclub in Suva.

Mr Gade said he could not recall seeing any injuries on Mr Tikoenaburevere after the punches were thrown.

Meanwhile, Sergeant Pradeep Lal, who was the officer in charge at the Totogo Police Station, on the day in question told court that the four people brought to the station were drunk.

He said one of the men had rushed towards Mr Tikoenaburevere and thrown a punch at him.

Mr Tikoenaburevere, he said, had dodged the punch and then held the man by his neck, lifted him up and pushed him to the ground where he lay motionless.

He also told the court that soon after, Kelepi Duri Tautaumacala Kolinisau slowly walked up to the man lying on the ground and suddenly stomped him on his stomach.

Mr Tikoenaburevere and Mr Kolinisau are on trial for the alleged murder of Lalauvaki.

Lalauvaki died at the CWM hospital on October 11, 2018, from injuries allegedly sustained as a result of the assault by the former police officers. The trial continues today before High Court judge Justice Vinsent Perera.