The criminal court has postponed a hearing in the murder trial of Mohamed Anas (Fenfiyazge, Raa atoll Meedhoo) due to the defendants not receiving the relevant documents.

The three defendants charged with first-degree murder are Usman Shareef of Male City, Ahmed Zayan of Lhaviyani atoll Kurendhoo island, Afrah Abdul Razzaq of Lonumidhili in Maafanu ward, Male City.

Four people were charged with assisting the three defendants. They are Junaih Abdulla of Gan island in Laamu atoll, Hassan Mahfooz of Feydhoo island in Seenu atoll, Mohamed Shaaz of Kinbindhoo island in Thaa atoll and Simah Moosa of registry no.1746.

During Thursday's hearing held to take witness statements, the legal defence of Junaih Abdulla, lawyer Adam Asif revealed that the defence had not received the relevant documents as Junaih was previously represented by another lawyer.

Asif referred to the recent murder trial of Gasim Hassan, highlighting that a hearing had also been postponed due to the defence not receiving the relevant documents.

Despite the fact that the officer who prepared the crime scene analysis report as well as the officer who prepared the video and image analysis report were present at the hearing, the presiding judge took the argument under consideration as the prosecution had also noted that taking witness statements while the defence does not have access to the required documents is a violation of the defendants legal right to counsel.

Hence, Judge Mohamed Sameer, the presiding judge over the trial, postponed taking all witness statements to 13:30 of March 2nd with the exception of secret witnesses.

As such, the prosecution noted that efforts will be made to take statements from all four witnesses at the next hearing.

While all seven suspects charged over the murder have pleaded not guilty, the viral video of the attack circulating online depicts Anas being stabbed multiple times inside Litus Service Centre by a group of masked men who chased after him into the service centre.