Multiple skull fractures, broken arms, shattered ribs, a smashed thigh bone, severed foot, crushed liver and a serious brain injury were the list of injuries a Northland mother of two suffered after being run over twice by a vehicle driven by her partner, a jury has been told.
The horrific injury toll was part of the closing address made by Crown prosecutor Bernadette O'Connor to a jury of six women and six men in the High Court at Whangarei yesterday.
Viliami Fungavaka, 47, denied murdering his partner 28-year-old Georgina Manuel, by running her over twice with his 1.7 tonne Holden Commodore in August 2013. During the trial evidence was given that Fungavaka was seen hitting Ms Manual as she stood on Pukepoto Rd, then doing a U turn to run over her as she lay across the road. He drove off leaving her to the mercy of people in the area, who rang emergency services.
Ms Manuel was rushed to Kaitaia Hospital then flown to Whangarei Hospital before she died at 4.49am the next day. An autopsy showed she suffered two major injuries, which independently either could have killed her. When she was struck the first time she suffered massive brain injuries and the second time she was driven over her liver was crushed. "Murderous intent can be instant. Both events individually can prove the charge of murder. His actions were deliberate both times," Ms O'Connor said. "He killed her twice."
The court also heard Fungavaka told his former wife during a telephone call the morning after he had killed Ms Manuel: "This is something I wanted to do." He also told her he was sick and tired of the way Ms Manuel treated him and when her former partner, and the father of her two children was released from Ngawha Prison, she was going back to live with him. Witnesses said the couple's relationship was unhappy and Fungavaka exhibited signs of being very obsessive. Ms Bernadette said the fact Ms Manuel was going to move back in with her former partner had played on Fungavaka's mind.
