Two policemen have been fired and another could lose his job
over the death of a New Zealand man in a Samoan prison cell
last year.
Hans Dalton was found dead upside down in a 166 litre drum of
water in Tafa'igata Prison outside of Apia on Boxing Day last
year.
While initially ruled as a suicide, 21-year-old prisoner
Jonathan Patrick Crichton was charged with his murder late
last month.
A police investigation found that the officers were
"negligent" in carrying out their duties while Mr Dalton was
in prison, the Samoa Observer reported.
"They were dismissed last Wednesday," Assistant Police
Commissioner Le'aupepe Fatu Pula was quoted as saying.
"One other policeman has pleaded not guilty so he is waiting
for a day to appear in front of the tribunal."
The officers have not been named.
Crichton is serving a life sentence for killing a taxi driver
at gunpoint last year.
He is yet to enter a plea over Mr Dalton's death and is due
in court again next week.
Mr Dalton was in Samoa visiting relatives when a mental
health episode led family members to seek support from the
authorities.
He was in jail at the time of his death because he had
reportedly become violent and police needed to restrain him.
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