Manu Vi pleads guilty to manslaughter after fruit picking colleague died following workplace fight

A Tongan man charged with the manslaughter of a fruit picker who intervened in a Riverland workplace fight has pleaded guilty.

A Tongan fruit picker involved in a fight that led to the death of a co-worker in the Riverland has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Manu Vi, 26, pleaded guilty to the charge in the Adelaide Magistrates Court by video link on Tuesday morning.

Vi was originally charged with manslaughter after his alleged victim, a 29-year-old Vanuatu national, did not show up for work the day after the incident at Paringa, 260km northeast of Adelaide on August 2 last.

However, a charge of murder, following an upgrade late last year, was then dropped on May 13 this year.

The man from Vanuatu died following a workplace argument among fruit pickers. Picture: File / Zoe Phillips

The victim intervened in a fight between his co-workers, in order to defend another man, but received a single blow to the face, the Adelaide Magistrates Court heard in December last year.

The 29-year-old man was found unresponsive in his cabin that night and rushed to hospital, but died two days later.

“This was an incident between fruit pickers living and working at Paringa,” police prosecutors said in December.

“There was a fight, the victim intervened and has taken a blow to the face which has, ultimately, killed him.

“There are numerous matters still to be investigated … police are currently taking in excess of 40 witness statements.”

Vi will next appear in the District Court in August.