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Judge adjourns treason trial for two men involved in Fiji coup
Suva, Fiji, July 22: The treason trial of two men allegedly involved in a coup that toppled Fiji`s democratically elected government was delayed after a defence lawyer walked off the case today.
Silotolu told the court that a previous application by him for legal aid had been rejected by Fiji's legal aid commission.
Silotolu is facing treason charges along with Josefa Nata, a former journalist, who is represented by two lawyers provided by the commission. Both men have pleaded innocent and face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted.
Prosecutor Gerard Mccoy supported Silotolu's application. Mccoy told the judge he planned to call about 45 witnesses, but could cut that by at least half if prosecution and defence lawyers agreed to certain non-controversial facts in the case.
``I am in the bizarre position of having to prove that they (the two accused men) are ethnic Fijians because they won't admit it,'' he said.
The judge adjourned the trial until Wednesday afternoon
but getting a new lawyer for Silotolu could take up to six
weeks.
Bureau Report