One witness, Nepia Te Rangi, who worked with Mr Epapara for about a year, said on the day of his death no formal morning meeting was held, which was unusual.
Usually it was required to have such a meeting to discuss where and what workers were doing that day, Mr Pilditch.
Later another worker, Major Nelson, radioed Te Rangi asking if he could see Mr Epapara who was working in the same area.
Nelson had intended to fell a tree and Te Rangi said he couldn't see him, he said.
When asked again, he replied again that he couldn't see him.
Murray McKechnie, the lawyer acting for Mr Epapara's family, asked Te Rangi why he didn't at that point tell Nelson to stop felling the tree, which was normal procedure.
"Why didn't you say, for Gods sake stop! Robert's there, stop."
Te Rangi didn't respond.
The third witness, Major Nelson, said what happened that day has stuck with him since.
"There's rarely a day that goes by where I don't think if him," he said.
"I wish I could wind the clock back, but I can't."
