A man has been arrested after a stabbing in which Taniela Loloma, 22, from Holonga, Vavaʻu was stabbed in the buttocks and was fighting for his life in hospital Saturday 8.
The injury was described as ‘severe’ after about a 30 cm long kitchen knife allegedly caused a deeply penetrating stab wound to the victim’s body, Vavaʻu Police Superintendent Netane Falakiseni told Kaniva News.
Police arrested Manuekaho Funaki, 38, of Tu’anuku, in relation to the incident and he appeared in court yesterday. He remains in Police custody and was due to reappear in court next week, Falakiseni said.
Police also confiscated the knife believed to have been used in the stabbing.
The victim has been drinking with friends and they were visiting the capital Neiafu during Vavaʻu Royal Agricultural and Fisheries Show.
A brawl erupted between them and a group of men from Tuʻanuku, Falakiseni said.
Local media report said the victim was supposed to be flown to Tongatapu on Monday due to the severity of his injury and after he had suffered heavy bleeding but was cancelled because there was no scheduled flights due to bad weather.
One report said medical instruments were flown from Tongatapu to Vavaʻu yesterday to help with Loloma’s treatment.
Falakiseni said that as of yesterday the victim was still in critical but stable condition.
