THE trial in which nine members of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) are charged with the murder of former army chief, Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao resumed in the High Court on Monday, after it was deferred last year.

Justice Charles Hungwe could however, not hear the matter in the morning as scheduled because one of the defence lawyers, Advocate Letuka Molati had a doctor’s appointment that morning, hence he asked for a postponement to later that afternoon.

He told the court that he would be ready to proceed in the afternoon as he did not want any other lawyer standing-in for him.

That afternoon, the hearing took off with an application for further cross-examination of a prosecution witness, retired Colonel Thato Phaila who had been testifying before the trial was adjourned last year.

Attorney Qhalehang Letsika who is part of the defence team told the court that in his testimony, Phaila had said certain things which did not arise in his cross examination,  hence the defence needed clarity on such issues.

But the prosecution opposed the application, arguing that it was not evidence that was solicited in evidence in chief.

The court however, allowed the prosecution to re-examine the witness.