MORE time has been given for prosecution to consider withdrawing unlawful wounding charges against some of the men accused of the armed robbery outside of the Bank of Pacific (BSP) at Point Cruz earlier this year.
That was supposed to be done on Tuesday in the Honiara Magistrates Court.
Public Prosecutor Ishmael Kekou said prosecution has not yet completed the opinion rendered by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
He said prosecution needs time to do that.
One of the defence counsels, Lazarus Kwaiga of L & L Lawyers who was not present yesterday had written to the court and prosecution seeking a seven day adjournment.
Anderson Kesaka of DNS & Partners who represents one of the accused added that whilst working on the completion of the opinion to withdraw the some of the charges, prosecution should also work on the pre-trial conference documents.
He said this is so that the matter can progress.
Prosecution is considering withdrawing unlawful charges against Stanley Ramo, Eric Junior Nathaniel, Richard Rurai and Ben Farobo except for David Faiga.
This is due to insufficient evidence found regarding the unlawful wounding charge against four of the five men facing the armed robbery charge.
Prosecution also considers withdrawing the receiving charges against Billy Deodore and Milton Gwaliasi who are charged with receiving.
These two accused were not part of the armed robbery but were accused of receiving part of the stolen money.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Shepherd Lapo granted an adjournment until July 26.
He said prosecution should be ready by then to inform the court on its position to withdraw some of the charges.
Mr Lapo further ordered that as soon as that is done, a pre-trial conference will also be conducted.
Farobo, Faiga, Ramo, Rurai and Nathaniel were charged in relation to the incident on the morning of 18 January outside of the former Westpac bank, now the BSP.
They allegedly robbed a carton containing $1 million from two Asians who were on their way into the bank to make deposits.
Prosecution alleged that while one of the accused waited in a car parked outside the bank, others went and attacked the complainant and grabbed the carton containing the money.
They allegedly escaped in the car but were shortly arrested, charged and remanded in custody.
Police alleged that the men were all masked and one of them was armed with a knife.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN