Ali Shahil, charged with the murder of Shiau Mohamed Saeed has been given the opportunity to appoint a public defender after the previous lawyer withdrew from the case.
Five charges were raised against Shahil who was arrested from the apartment where the murder took place. But the Criminal Court is conducting closed-door hearings in the trial.
A court media official told Adhadhu that the previous public defender withdrew from the case on August 9. At a hearing on the following day, Shahil requested to appoint another lawyer.
Criminal Court said a public defender can be appointed within five days. The court said that the trial is still in the preliminary stages and that a decision on the evidence protection order will be made at the next hearing once a lawyer is appointed.
According to the Constitution, the state must provide lawyers to those who cannot afford to hire their own lawyers in serious criminal cases. The state will also have to pay for the lawyers and the financial means of the defendant will be assessed according to a guideline by the Attorney General (AG)'s office.
Shahil is charged with intentional homicide, possession of pornography and use of cannabis. Neither the Prosecutor General (PG)'s office nor the court disclosed the other two charges filed by the prosecution.
The court did not say how Shahil responded to the charges.
