Former police officer Kelepi Kolinisau today told the Suva High Court that he was assaulted when he arrested Tomasi on 2nd September last year.

While giving evidence Kolinisau said that Tomasi was with Josua Lalauvaki who was also arrested on this day.

Kelepi Kolinisau told the court today that a call was received from another officer for assistance as he was trying to make an arrest outside the Wrecktangle nightclub.

Kolinisau stated that he responded to this and came to help the officer and four people were arrested and were taken to the Totogo Police Station.

He stated that the four were involved in a fight outside the nightclub and were taken to the charge room.

The former officer told the court that he took one of the arrested persons by the name of Tomasi inside the station and he punched him in front of ASP Rusiate Ryland.

Kolinisau also said that ASP Ryland told him not to lodge the report and he later released the arrested persons.

The court heard that on 5th September, Kolinisau received a call and he was told to make his way to Totogo Police Station.

He was told that a man by the name of Josua Lalauvaki was admitted at the CWM Hospital.

Kolinisau stated that he told his superiors that he did not arrest Lalauvaki and neither did he assault him, but he was focusing on Tomasi.

He informed the court that he had nothing to do with Lalauvaki’s alleged assault.

The second defense witness police officer Isikeli Rabuka also took the stand and told the court that there was a reconciliation between the arrested persons and ASP Ryland who released two people.

Kelepi Duri Tautaumacala Kolinisau and Ratu Selema Tikoenaburevere face one count each of murder.

It’s alleged the two officers assaulted 26-year-old Lalauvaki outside a nightclub in Suva on September 2nd, last year.

Lalauvaki later died at Suva’s CWM hospital on October 11th as a result of injuries he sustained from the alleged assault.

The trial will continue tomorrow.