A RULING on a trial within a trial in the Magistrate’s Court was adjourned to March 12 due to tight schedules of the presiding magistrate.
Arnold Batari and Douglas Niuta were charged with robbery.
This was in relation on an incident on 11 March 2008 at Mud Alley in Honiara.
Police alleged Batari and another suspect Jerome Ramo robbed Margaret Odilia by cutting off the strap of her hand bag and took off with the bag containing $74,000.
Ms Odilia was an employee of the Hot Bread Kitchen and she was on her way to the bank to deposit the money.
The two then fled in a taxi allegedly driven by Douglas Niuta.
Niuta reportedly dropped them off at Mbuburu. The two then fled into the bush.
Niuta’s taxi was identified hours later and he was arrested.
Batari was arrested days later at Aruligo in West Guadalcanal.
But the two accused are challenging the statements police took from them, arguing they were made without cautioning them.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Jefferson Leua presided over the trial within the trial.
He was due to rule on the arguments yesterday, but could not make it because he had just returned from his provincial court circuit.
He will now deliver his ruling on March 12.
By ASSUMPTA PIVA
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