RULING on the voir dire hearing (trial within a trial) conducted on the case of two of the six men accused of robbing $4million from the Westpac Bank last year has been deferred to next week.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Shepherd Lapo will hand down his ruling on Tuesday.
The ruling was earlier listed for yesterday.
Mr Lapo however, said he needs to do more research on the law first before making his decision.
The voir dire hearing was conducted for Harry Lilimae and Stanley Waneakwasia in August this year.
Police have called four police officers and the two accused in defence gave evidence on oath during the hearing.
They are challenging their record of interview with police, claiming they were done involuntarily and unfairly.
These two accused are jointly charged with Patterson Amos Otokwai, Dudley Baemalia and Jonathan Wanefilio with charges of armed robbery.
They are due in court again on November 29.
A sixth accused, Gabi Selo had already pleaded guilty to the robbery charge and grievous harm for cutting off a security officer’s wrist, and is now awaiting sentence in the High Court.
The men allegedly robbed two boxes containing $4 million when two security officers including Lilimae, who allegedly planned the robbery, were wheeling out the boxes to a waiting vehicle outside the bank.
Lilimae and another security officer who had his wrist chopped off during the robbery incident were working for Alert Protective Service.
Lilimae, who allegedly masterminded the robbery, was attacked but left unharmed while his colleague got his wrist chopped off.
The five men then took off in a car heading westerly direction at a very high speed.
A police and public chase resulted in it crashing at Kakabona.
It was alleged that there, the five men disembarked with knives, threatening anyone that goes closer to them.
Police managed to arrest some of them at the spot while others escaped and were arrested later.
So far police have retrieved $3.7 million while more than $200,000 was missing.
Public Solicitor’s Office lawyers, Martha Manaka, Howard Lawry, Allan Tinoni, and Stanley Aupai are representing the accused men.
Public Prosecutor Ishmael Kekou appeared on behalf of the Crown on this matter on Tuesday.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
