Update: 6:03PM THE first State witness in the murder trial of a policeman and eight soldiers took the stand at the Lautoka High Court today.
Alanieta Rabaka described in detail the pain her son, Sakiusa, endured during his final days.
Sakiusa is alleged to have been tortured inhumanely on January 28, 2007, by the accuseds.
Mrs Rabaka was very emotional in court as she recounted the suffering Sakiusa endured after his return from Black Rock, the military training camp in Votualevu.
She told High Court judge Daniel Goundar there were visible straight marks and boot marks on Rabaka's stomach and his back.
His head was swollen, he was vomiting and he complained of severe head aches, she said.
He was admitted in Nadi, Lautoka and then the Colonial War Memorial hospitals where he received treatment.
On February 20, Sakiusa was discharged from CWMH and after spending two days with relatives, he begged her to take him to their home in Nadi.
She said on the morning he died (February 24), he thanked her for heeding his pleas to return him home.
