Policewoman's partner faces trial over death

SYDNEY - New Zealander Talatofisamoa Selu Lealiifano, head bobbing in a trance-like state, yesterday showed no emotion as he was extradited to Perth following the discovery of his policewoman girlfriend's body in the burned remains of their gutted home.

Lealiifano made a brief appearance in a glass-barricaded dock in Sydney Central Local Court yesterday, where two detectives succeeded in securing his return to West Australia.

The heavy-set 27-year-old was intercepted by New South Wales police on Sunday night at Sydney International Airport, hours after he allegedly fled from the burning beachside property he shared with Constable Felicity Jane Park.

Firefighters found Ms Park's body in a bedroom of her home in suburban Hillarys.

Lealiifano, who moved to Perth from New Zealand in 1995, was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm when he first appeared in court yesterday. He did not plead.

Magistrate Paula Russell granted the extradition order and Lealiifano was remanded in custody. He will be escorted home today.

More charges are likely to be laid after a post-mortem examination is completed on Ms Park.

The 22-year-old was born in Oamaru and moved to Australia with her parents when she was two.

She joined the West Australian Police Service in June 2001 and graduated in December that year.

She had always wanted to be a police officer and had served at Mirrabooka on traffic patrol.

The couple had lived in Hillarys for about four months and seemed happy, said neighbour Clare Byfield.

But another neighbour told The West Australian newspaper the couple were arguing about 5am on Sunday outside their home. It was the last time Ms Park was seen alive.

Lealiifano's Sydney counsel, Simon Bleasel, was unsure if his client had any family in Perth and where he was originally from in New Zealand.

Police would not confirm if Lealiifano was trying to fly back to New Zealand when he was arrested at the airport.

- NZPA