Hearing cancelled after suspected murderer fails to appoint lawyer

Hearing on trial of a Maldivian suspected of murdering Bangladeshi citizen Bandh Shahumia - who was found dead inside a house in Laam Atoll Gan in June was cancelled after defendant failed to appoint a lawyer.

State is prosecuting Ali Hamza of Laam Atoll Gan, Redfish for premeditated murder using a lethal weapon.

During the last hearing held on the case, state prosecutor said that Hamza was being charged with premeditated murder using a lethal weapon because he had hit Bandh Shahumia in the face while he had been sleeping on the porch of the house – Randhaanuge – at around 10:00 pm June 9, 2015 using a three-foot-long wooden baton, resulting in his death.

During the hearing held that day, Hamza had said that he wanted to answer charged against him in the presence of a lawyer. The judge presiding over the case, Judge Abdhulla Nasheed granted Hamza five days to appoint a lawyer.