BOUNTIFUL — A man accused of killing his wife's ex-husband by brutally beating and stomping him to death exchanged several text messages with the victim prior to their confrontation, according to newly released search warrants.
On Oct. 14, Heneli Kaufusi, 35, got into a fight in front of Kaufusi's home, 3534 S. Lexington Drive, with 37-year-old Sione Mangisi. Mangisi was visiting from Hawthorne, California, to see his four children who live at the home with their mother and Kaufusi.
"The victim and suspect exchanged multiple text messages regarding child custody and visitation prior to the altercation," investigators wrote in search warrant affidavits filed in 2nd District Court, adding that the texts may have "led to the altercation."
Kaufusi, who is listed as 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 330 pounds, allegedly attacked Mangisi, who police described as 6 feet tall and 220 pounds. Witnesses told police that Kaufusi "was standing over the victim swinging at him while the victim lay on the ground," according to the warrants.
Witnesses told emergency dispatchers that Kaufusi was then “stomping” Mangisi while he was on the ground.
"At one point the witness stated that the suspect walked away from the victim onto the sidewalk. The suspect then took out a cellphone and appeared to take a picture of the victim," the warrants state. "The suspect then returns to the victim and re-engages him by 'stomping the victim with his feet.' The suspect then started screaming at the victim while standing over him."
Kaufusi went back to Mangisi a third time and threw him into the gutter, the affidavits state.
When officers arrived, Mangisi "could barely stand" and his face was extremely swollen, according to the warrants. He died while paramedics were taking him to a medical helicopter waiting to fly him to a local hospital.
Kaufusi was being held without bail Wednesday in the Davis County Jail. His next court hearing is scheduled for Monday.
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