Tongan seasonal worker

After deliberating for more than three hours following the four-day trial, the Busselton District Court jury found 24-year-old Sione Vaioleti not guilty of aggravated sexual penetration without consent.

ABC Pacific reports the jury did, however, find him guilty of having sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 16.

One jury member cried as the verdict was handed down, while Vaioleti showed no emotion.

The lesser charge carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison, with Judge John Prior saying it was inevitable that Vaioleti would be jailed.

Hiko Lynch, 23, was stabbed with a 24-centimetre knife, thrust upwards into his abdomen, which pierced his heart. He collapsed onto the ground where he died, in the early hours of June 20 last year.

The details of that night recorded by police have been released publicly for the first time as the gang member, Auckland man George Junior Pikaahu, 34, originally charged with murder, admitted a charge of manslaughter for his part in Lynch’s death.

Sione Lavalu was expected to receive more medical treatments after he woke up at the Royal Hospital in Brisbane this week.

“He has woken up and it is clear he’s conscious again”, his brother Manase Lavalu told Kaniva News in Tongan.

Pictures provided by the family show Sione being spoon fed by a relative while lying consciously in a bed in hospital. He was surrounded by family members.

Manase previously said Sione was picked up at a home after reports he was allegedly injured in a BBQ accident.

The 34-year-old accused has been remanded in custody until September.

Kaniva News reports Lynch was in New Zealand as an RSE (Recognised Seasonal Employer) worker before he died in an alleged stabbing on Market St on 20 June in central Blenheim.

Police believe the fatality came after an altercation between the Tongan RSE workers and some Rebel gang members from outside the region.

Lynch had been out celebrating a friend’s birthday. Two other Tongan men were wounded and hospitalised at Blenheim’s Wairau Hospital.

Speaking at a vigil in Otara, Māteni Lynch said the news of his young brother’s (Hiko) death was too much to bear.

“It was so difficult for me when I am thinking about the reason of why we came here to New Zealand to work to help our family back in Tonga”, Mateni said tearfully according to a report by Kaniva News.

Māteni said they have seven siblings and Hiko was of a “special character”.

Hiko Junior Lynch, 23, was allegedly stabbed on Market St just after 3am on Sunday, 20 June.

A Givealittle page set up by Lynch’s employer Hortus has seen over 200 people pledge over $13,000 by this morning for his family.

According to the company, the funds will support Hiko's family in Tonga through this tragic and difficult time.

“All proceeds will go directly back to his family.”

The 23-year-old from Holonga, Tonga was killed in an alleged stabbing incident early Sunday morning.

Police said a 33-year-old male and a 37-year-old male were both due to appear in the Blenheim District Court yesterday afternoon.

Lynch aged 23 was killed in an alleged stabbing in Blenheim on Sunday morning.

Two other Tongans remain in hospital in a stable condition.

Police continue to appeal to anyone who may have video footage taken at the Club Envy or around the Market Street area in the early hours of Sunday 20 June.

Any footage can be uploaded by using the following link: https://alaia.nzpolice.org/

Fuifuikula 'O Lofakaitamaki 'Ealelei is reported to have died of a suspected heart attack while he was asleep.

RSE Liaison Officer in New Zealand, Sefita Hao'uli, told Kaniva News that his co-workers attempted to wake him up on Sunday (May 16) before they realised he was dead.

'Ealelei died at the Mr Apple Tongan RSE worker's accommodation in Hastings.

His family are now working with Tongan and New Zealand authorities to take his body back home to Tonga.

The young father is survived by his wife and their two children.

Fuifuikula ‘O Lofakaitamaki ‘Ealelei, from Haveluloto died of a suspected heart attack while he was asleep at the weekend.

‘Ealelei’s death has been referred to the coroner.

His co-workers attempted to wake him up on Sunday, 16 May at 12pm before they realised he was dead, RSE Liaison Officer in New Zealand Sefita Hao’uli told Kaniva News yesterday afternoon.

‘Ealelei died at the Mr Apple Tongan RSE worker’s accommodation at Williams St, Hastings.

Police and emergency services attended the scene.

Manu Vi, 25, faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday by video link, and has yet to plead to one count of murder, the Queensland Times online has reported.

According to a Kaniva News report the charge arises from an incident at Paringa, 260km north east of Adelaide, on August 2.

Vi was originally charged with manslaughter after his alleged victim, a 29-year-old Vanuatu national, did not show up for work the day after the incident.

The Vanuatu man was found unresponsive in his cabin that night and rushed to hospital, but died two days later.