A MAN accused of the murder of three people during the height of the ethnic tension in 2003 will take his plea, Monday.
A committal hearing is expected to be conducted thereafter.
John Meti faces three counts of murder in relation to the allegation on 27 May 2003 at Pite area, at Weathercoast in south Guadalcanal.
Prosecution alleged Meti and former Guadalcanal warlord Harold Keke having suspected the three deceased of joining the joint police operation forcibly led them to Pite.
The three deceased were allegedly murdered there and buried at the beach.
Keke is now serving his life term for this offence while Meti was under a warrant of arrest since 2008 when the committal hearing was conducted in the Honiara Magistrates’ Court.
Meti was arrested few months ago and remanded in custody awaiting the committal hearing on his case.
He appeared in court on Thursday but his lawyer was not present.
Magistrate Augustine Aulanga having looked through the court files said the matter has been adjourned for sometimes now.
He said on different occasions, different lawyers from the Public Solicitor’s Office (PSO) appeared either with or without instructions.
Public Prosecutor Bradley Dalipanda informed the court that on the last court appearance Resly Brook from the PSO confirmed the matter was allocated to his colleague Michael Holara.
The matter is now only awaiting a plea and committal hearing as investigation is already completed.
Mr Aulanga therefore ordered Allan Tinoni of PSO, who appeared in court, to inform Mr Holara to appear in court next week.
He said by then the accused should enter his plea and a committal hearing be conducted.
“I don’t see any reason why this matter should be prolonged further.”
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN