The court has on Monday fixed a tentative date to hear the defence case in relation to the case of the four men accused of the murder of a man in Auki in Malaita province last year.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Shepherd Lapo set down a one week hearing for the long form preliminary inquiry commencing on 13 February 2017.
The matter will return to the Honiara Magistrate’s Court again on December 6.
This is for one of the lawyers Hubert Fugui to confirm his availability for the defence case as he was not present yesterday in court or given any instructions.
Only two of the lawyers Anderson Kesaka of DNS & Partners and Public Solicitor’s lawyer Ben Alasia were present in court where they confirmed their availability.
Alasia’s colleague Henry Kausimae did not turn up in court but gave instructions confirming his availability for the one week committal hearing.
The four accused, Benard Lagate’e, Robert Jeeney Ete, Luciano Laukasi and Milton Maelikini are jointly charged with the murder of a man between August 17 and August 18 last year at the Sea Sound area, Gwaunaru’u.
The deceased’s body was found near the Bmobile tower at Auki.
Mr Kesaka is representing Ete, Fugui represents Laukasi while Public Solicitor’s Lawyer Henry Kausimae and Ben Alasia represent Lagate’e and Maelikini.
Public Prosecutor Bradley Dalipanda is prosecuting.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
