Alcohol link to Porirua death

A man whose death led police to begin a homicide investigation last May sustained his fatal injuries in falls affected by alcohol, the Wellington coroner said.

Thomas Tamiti Tohu, of Porirua, died in hospital after being found unconscious at his home.

Wellington coroner Garry Evans said in his inquest report that Mr Tohu had spent the day before his death at a bowling club with friends.

He went on to the local RSA branch, where he was seen to fall over a chair.

Three-quarters of an hour later he walked to a friend's home, where he fell a second time, hitting the back of his head.

Mr Tohu was then given a lift home, where he fell again on the roadway, hitting his back and head.

Mr Evans said a pathologist's report advised that the cause of death was subdural haemorrhage (beneath the brain membrane), secondary to the fracture of the skull from a fall on to a hard surface.

Mr Evans said that each of Mr Tohu's falls was affected by alcohol.