Officer Admits Guilt in Suva Death

A 28-year-old police officer has pleaded guilty to manslaughter over the death of a man at Central St, Suva, earlier this year.

Fifita Toma Tawake admitted the charge yesterday before Justice Thushara Rajasinghe at the High Court in Suva, where his trial was scheduled to begin.

The court heard that on January 13, Tawake and several friends had been drinking kava at JJ's on the Park, now known as DeVos on the Park, before driving home.

As they approached traffic lights near Central St, a 47-year-old man was crossing the road from the Westpac Bank building to the Fiji Airways office when the lights turned red.

According to prosecutor Simone Seruvatu, the man tapped the rear of Tawake's car to signal that it was running a red light.

Frustrated and under the influence of kava, Tawake stopped the car, exited, and, without any provocation, punched the man in the face.

The victim fell hard onto the concrete pavement.

Tawake and a friend carried the injured man to the corner near Westpac Bank and left him in the rain for about 40 minutes.

Witnesses said Tawake dismissed concerns about the man's condition, telling bystanders not to worry as he was merely unconscious.

When approached by a worker in the area, Tawake reportedly told him to "mind his own business".

Bystanders eventually moved the man across the street to shelter him Manslaughter accused Fifita Toma Tawake outside the High Court in Suva. Photo: Beranadeta Nagatalevu from the rain.

When a police vehicle arrived, Tawake told the officers to take the victim to the hospital.

The man later succumbed to serious head injuries at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital.

The case has been adjourned to Wednesday for final submissions. Justice Rajasinghe is expected to deliver the sentence on Friday.

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