Posted at 10:27 a.m., Monday, August 7, 2006
Man who died after being punched identified
Advertiser Staff
The man who died after he was punched and fell to the ground last week has been identified as Robert I.M. Swanson, 58, the city Department of the Medical Examiner said.An autopsy Friday found Swanson suffered cranial and cerebral injuries caused by a fall after he was assaulted. The autopsy also found acute alcohol intoxication. Swanson was homeless.
Kapeli Lafaele, 54, was charged with manslaughter Friday afternoon and is being held on $100,000 bail. Police said Lafaele is homeless.
Police said that Swanson confronted Lafaele shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday near Beretania Street after watching him allegedly steal a bed sheet.
When Swanson told Lafaele not to take the sheet, he was allegedly punched by the suspect and fell backwards. He got back up, but Lafaele allegedly punched him again and he fell once more, this time slamming his head on the concrete edge of the street, police said.
Swanson was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition and died Thursday afternoon.
