The State is seeking time to provide voir dire disclosures concerning three men contesting the DNA evidence linking them to the van in which a man was allegedly held hostage and killed.
Edward Nand, Semi Naisevunivai and Viliame Vulawalu appeared earlier this week before Justice Pita Bulamainaivalu in the High Court in Suva for a continued pre-trial conference.
The prosecution alleges that sometime between November 27 and December 27 last year, the men held Afroz Khan captive in a van while demanding a $10,000 ransom from his wife, money they instructed her to leave in a rubbish bin near Nausori’s Ratu Cakobau Park.
When the ransom was not delivered, the men allegedly assaulted Khan with a wheel spanner, bound his hands and feet, covered his mouth and drowned him in a river in Naitasiri.
The men are also challenging the unfairness of the caution interview and their alleged assault which occurred during their arrest, among other issues.
The State has sought time to provide copies of Mr Naisevunivai and Mr Vulawalu’s English translation of the caution interview.
Mr Naisevunivai’s lawyer has been given time to file their second bail application. The case has been adjourned to August 28.
