Police lost bullet that killed Faleatiu man – inquest hears

The bullet that killed, Rapi Lelevaga Sialei, of Faleatiu, came from a Samoan police rifle, an expert witness has told an inquest into his death.

But that bullet disappeared after it was examined by a Forensic Scientist from New Zealand.

“I went to the police office at Apia and got the bullet and returned it,” said Senior Forensic Scientist from Environment and Science Research, Kevan Walsh, of his 2012 visit and a preliminary examination.

“Afterwards, I was told the bullet couldn’t be located.”

One of Mr. Walsh’s tasks was to identify which particular firearm fired the fatal shot.

Asked if he was able to do so by lawyer, Precious Chang, from the Office of the Attorney General, the ESR scientist said “no.”

The bullet had been lost despite police later sending more than three dozen cartridges to New Zealand for testing.

What Mr. Walsh was able to ascertain was that the bullet came from a self-loading rifle of a type used by police that day.

Mr. Walsh gave evidence in the inquest into the death of the father of seven from Faleatiu.

He said in his opinion, the bullet that shot the deceased man is not from one of the 39 cartridge cases sent by Police for examination in New Zealand.

“If I look at the features, the weight - this bullet (that killed Rapi) weighs 120 grams,” he explained. “Given one of the police issued ammunition, and a bullet from it, the weight is 144 grams, heavier than the 120 grams."

“Given the damage, I would expect some loss,” said Mr. Walsh, referring to the bullet he saw and its weight.

“I’m not surprised that the weight is lighter than what is expected, with losing materials.”

He further pointed out, “a number of features that they were comparable between the bullet that was found with the deceased and the Samoan police issued ammunition, in my opinion very strongly supports the proposition that the bullet that struck the deceased has been fired by a Samoan police officer from a S.L.R. rifle.”

Mr. Walsh gave evidence for more than five hours yesterday, with Judge Vaepule Vaemoa Va’ai, as coroner, asking about a dozen questions. Mr. Walsh used a computer projector to show a 3D computer reconstruction of the scene of the gun battle at the village, featuring about five buildings, water tanks, a mechanic’s shop, an open fale Samoa, and a shop. Brigitta Lo Tam–Faafiti also appeared for the Attorney General’s Office.

He said the bullet that killed Mr. Sialei had a lead core and a copper jacket and was manufactured in Australia.

In his evidence Mr. Walsh said the ammunition was consistent with the police SLR rifle.

Ms. Chang told the Court there were fifteen rifles issued to police and 39 cartridges found at the village that were sent to New Zealand for examination. The 39 cartridges sent by police to New Zealand were not found to have been fired from any of the police weapons.

Earlier in his evidence, Mr. Walsh said there were five gunshots fired at the house where Mr. Sialei died.

Two of those shots struck the roof.

When told by the Judge that in other evidence the deceased was found with a bullet in a back room of the house, Mr. Walsh said that it was difficult to determine where the shot came from, among so many others.

The expert informed the Court he had discussed the matter with the Pathologist who described the angle of entry wounds to him.

“The large wound on the right side of the head, had gone through the head and down to his left shoulder,” he said.

“There was no evidence of a close range shot.

What was significant is the large number of small puncture marks.”

These “indicated that before the deceased was struck, it struck an object before it struck the deceased.

“He was close to an object that was struck by a bullet that then struck the deceased.”

Mr. Walsh said the marks showed the deceased was in a position with his head low and his shoulder raised.

He said one of the bullets that came through the rear roof couldn’t be accounted for.

The same goes for another bullet that was shot through the wall, they “couldn’t account where it had gone through".

“It is possible that shot came from the roadway and shot through the door."

“He could’ve been leaning down to look outside at the police.”

Mr. Walsh said it was interesting that there wasn’t any blood found on the floor.

However he made it clear that he went to the crime scene about five weeks after the incident.

But, he said there were “blood spots on the door jam”.

There are 26 witnesses in the inquest, with Mr. Walsh and police officers giving evidence yesterday.

The hearing continues today.