The prosecution and defence will make their closing submissions next Tuesday in the murder trial of former police officers, Kelepi Kolinisau and Selema Tikoenaburevere.

26-year-old Josua Lalauvaki was allegedly assaulted by Kolinisau and Tikoenaburevere on 2nd September last year and later passed away on the 11th of October last year.

Meanwhile, defence witness, Police Officer Pita Bese who was on foot patrol on the night of the alleged incident has told the court that while he was identifying himself to Lalauvaki's girlfriend, he had lifted his identity card to her face and she had then tapped his hand.

Bese says he had then pushed her and raised his tone to tell her that he was arresting her. 

Bese has told the court that Lalauvaki's girlfriend and her friends then started swearing at him and made some remarks. 

During cross-examination by DPP Lawyer Meli Vosawale, Bese did not agree that without raising his voice he could have calmly controlled the situation. 

Bese also did not agree with Vosawale that by raising his voice and pushing a drunk woman he had exacerbated the situation.