The funeral for US based Tongan Sione Feimoefiafi will be held in Puke next week February 19, more than a fortnight after he died in Tonga, our correspondent in Tongatapu has reported.
A Ministry of Health spokesperson said the deceased’s body has been released back to his family this morning at 11am.
The 49-year-old who lived in Portland, Oregon for years died following an afternoon brutal bar brawl in Tonga.
He has been repeatedly punched and kicked before being dragged outside onto the road.
He died in hospital that evening. He is survived by his wife and three teenage children.
Five men have been charged with his murder and had been scheduled to appear in the Fasi Magistrate Court on Monday.
Meanwhile his family have arrived in Tonga on Thursday.
Tonga’s Chief Secretary Edgar Cocker said some cabinet ministers welcomed Feimoefiafi’s family.
A video clip shared on Facebook shows Sione’s mother Talakuo’eva Feimoefiafi thanking the people for the outpouring of love, numerous messages, tributes and compassion in the wake of the former boxer’s murder.
Sione’s father was a Free Wesleyan Church minister.
Sione went to Tupou College, the Church’s largest boys’ school in Tonga.
Our correspondent said Sione’s funeral service was organised to be held next week to allow the church and Tupou college’s alumni an opportunity to attend the funeral.
He said the Alumni was holding its annual singing competition today.
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