Scrivener was tortured, says family

The family of New Zealander Gregory Scrivener says it has a report showing he was tortured before his brutal murder in Fiji.

Mr Scrivener's sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Tony Alvos, received the pathologist's report and its distressing contents at their Tauranga home this morning.

The family had a pathologist examine Mr Scrivener's body in Tauranga, before his burial on Saturday.

Mr Scrivener and his partner, Fiji Red Cross head John Scott, were found hacked to death in their Suva home on July 1. A 23-year-old Fijian man, Apitia Kaisau, has been charged with the murders.

Mr Alvos, swimwear company Expozay International's chief executive, said the family doubted Fiji police had arrested the right man for the murders, alleging Kaisau was "mentally disturbed".

Although the family did not want to reveal the exact contents of the report at this stage, they say the pathologist stated that Mr Scrivener, 39, was tortured before his death.

This information also suggested there was more than one person involved in their deaths, Mr Alvos said.

He rejected claims made by Kaisau that he had been sexually exploited by Mr Scott and Mr Scrivener. He also denied police suggestions that the two men possessed child pornography and drugs.

Fiji police said a carton of pornographic photographs was discovered at the pair's home and, along with some videotapes, had been taken away to be examined. They said white powder, believed to be cocaine, was found at the house.

"We don't believe they had that material and how it got there is beyond us," Mr Alvos said.

"We're really distressed over these claims. Greg wasn't a paedophile and nor was he a drug addict.

Mr Alvos said the pair had been in a loving, stable relationship for 22 years and were "humanitarian at heart".

He said the family still believed the murders were politically motivated, noting that the killings happened just before the treason trial of coup plotter George Speight, in which Mr Scott had been called to give evidence.

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES