June trial set for Bountiful man accused of murdering wife's ex-husband

June trial set for Bountiful man accused of murdering wife's ex-husband

(Davis County Jail)


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FARMINGTON — A jury trial has been scheduled for a Bountiful man charged with murder in the beating death of his wife's ex-husband.

Heneli Kaufusi, 35, appeared in court briefly Monday as trial dates were set for this summer. Following graphic witness testimony about the violent encounter during a preliminary hearing earlier this month, Kaufusi was ordered to stand trial in the death of 37-year-old Sione Mangisi, who had previously been married to and has children with Kaufusi's wife.

Describing the Oct. 14, 2015, attack that she and her husband watched from their car, Teresa Beauregard said she saw a large man later identified as Kaufusi repeatedly punching, kicking and stomping on Mangisi. According a police search warrant, the two men exchanged text messages about child custody and visitation before the altercation.

Mangisi was later rushed by ambulance to a nearby park where a medical helicopter could land, dying before he could be transported. A medical examiner ruled Mangisi's death a homicide, saying he died of blunt force trauma to the head and torso, with existing hypertension and cardiovascular conditions contributing.

Kaufusi is charged with murder, a first-degree felony. A three-day jury trial has been scheduled to begin June 15, with jury selection scheduled for the week prior.

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McKenzie Romero

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