New information has been confirmed regarding former Police Officer Edward Fanueli charged with the murder of his partner, the Late Constable Mele Lapana shot in the head the day before Christmas.
Commissioner Auapa’au Logoitino Filipo told Radio Polynesia, that Fanueli was one of the Police Officers whose names surfaced back in March, in relation to a Standard Unit investigation launched after their identity surfaced from interrogations of drug defendants arrested and charged in drug raids earlier in the year.
“Fanueli was one of the first Police officers to resign from his post when the investigation was underway,” said Auapa’au in an interview with Radio Polynesia.
The Commissioner was unable to confirm whether Fanueli was under the influence of drugs, citing they were unable to determine that the night he was taken in for questioning and was criminally charged thereafter.
Ms Lapana was allegedly shot in the head by the defendant who remains in the custody of police to await his appearance in the Supreme Court to answer the murder charges filed against him.
The Police Commissioner also confirmed the body of the Late Constable remains at the morgue to undergo an autopsy as ordered by the Coroner.
