Father ran to help injured daughter

The High Court in Whangarei heard testimony from the father of Georgina Manuel, who ran to his daughters aid after she was run over twice by her partner.

A visibly-distraught Northland father has told a High Court murder trial how he ran to his daughter lying injured in the middle of the road soon after she had been run over twice by her partner after an argument.

George Manuel said he had refused a ride home from his daughter Georgina Manuel's partner Viliami Fungavaka while walking home from a party in Kaitaia on the night of August 20, 2013. He gave evidence in the High Court at Whangarei yesterday.

Fungavaka, 47, is accused of running over his partner and mother of two, Ms Manuel, with his car during a roadside argument in Kaitaia on August 20, 2013.

He has denied a charge of murder, saying what happened to Ms Manuel was an accident.

Mr Manuel said Fungavaka moved in with him and his daughter while they lived in Kaitaia prior to August 20, 2013.

On the day she was run over, he accompanied Fungavaka and Ms Manuel to a party on Williams St where between 20 and 30 people gathered.

Mr Manuel said while he was talking to his daughter and former wife at the party, Fungavaka was not really talking to anyone and was looking around.

He said he left about 10.15pm as he was not feeling well and told Ms Manuel he would be walking back home.

Mr Manuel said while he was walking back, his daughter asked Fungavaka to pick him up. He said Fungavaka's car stopped by a dairy and Ms Manuel asked him to hop in.

Mr Manuel said he opened the door but decided not to hitch a ride. He then crossed the road and saw the car come around and do a u-turn.

He glanced back and saw the car slowly move forward before he heard two noises.

Mr Manuel then turned and saw his daughter lying on the road. He ran back and was with her until emergency services arrived.

Detective Paula Drewery told the court she and another police officer went to the Kaitaia Hospital after Ms Manuel was taken there but they couldn't talk to her due to her condition. She later died.

The trial before Justice John Faire continues.