23 May 2013

Trial of man accused of Manning murder 'next year'

12:12 pm on 23 May 2013

The lawyer for a man accused of the murder of a Christchurch woman says it is unlikely he will face trial this year.

Mauha Fawcett is charged with the kidnap and murder of 27-year-old Mallory Manning, whose body was found dumped in the Avon River in 2008.

The 24-year-old was arrested in Auckland in March last year.

His trial had been due to start in Christchurch on 20 May but earlier this month the court said the trial was not ready to proceed.

Mr Fawcett appeared briefly at a pre-trial conference at the High Court in Christchurch on Thursday and was remanded until to 15 October for pre-trial arguments.

His lawyer, Craig Ruane, says it is unlikely his client would face trial until next year.