One of the three men contesting the DNA evidence linking them to the van in which Afroz Khan was allegedly held hostage and killed has filed his grounds for voir dire.
Edward Nand appeared before Justice Pita Bulamainaivalu at the High Court in Suva for a pretrial conference alongside Semi Naisevunivai and Viliame Vulawalu.
The trio allegedly held Khan captive in a van while demanding a $10,000 ransom from his wife, money they allegedly instructed her to leave inside a rubbish bin near Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori.
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 some time between November 27 and December 27 last year.
Mr Naisevunivai and Mr Vulawalu are yet to file their voir dire grounds because their lawyers are awaiting the English translation of the video recorded caution interview transcript.
However, Justice Bulamainaivalu said this was not necessary and advised their lawyers to speak to their clients to ascertain the voir dire grounds. Mr Nand filed his grounds in court yesterday.
Mr Naisevunivai’s bail application hearing has been rescheduled.
The lawyers will make representations to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, specifically on photographs from the photographic booklet to be excluded from the case.
The case has been adjourned to August 1.
