Soldier Maika Vuniwawa has denied ever assaulting Nakaulevu villager Nimilote Verebasaga.

During Verebasaga's murder trial this afternoon, Police Corporal Atonio Koro read out Vuniwawa's statement where he claimed that a directive was issued for them to go and arrest Verebasaga to question him on why he had threatened Indian residents in the area.

Corporal Koro relayed that Vuniwawa said he received a report about a break-in somewhere close to Nakaulevu and a directive was issued by the Platoon Commander Sergeant Alipate Rabitu to go to the scene and bring Verebasaga in for questioning.

It was highlighted in the statement that Vuniwawa said that he had ordered Verebasaga to go through a Leopard exercise at their Davuilevu base adding he had also told the deceased to crawl on the footpath.

He maintained that he never assaulted the deceased.

However, a Pathologist report has revealed that Verebasaga died due to severe injuries sustained to his vital organs which suffered a shock and internal bleeding.

Pathologist Dr Abha Gupta read out the post mortem report and explained that Verebasaga suffered internal injuries to his brain, heart, lung and liver due to trauma.

Dr Gupta also highlighted that there was no fracture on his skull or any bones but both his lungs were partially collapsed which also showed blood clots.

The case continues at 9am tomorrow.