THE Lakeraj Fredericks murder retrial — in which he is accused of having, on June 3, 2011 in the County of Demerara, murdered Clifton Bonus, called ‘Mutts’ — should have begun yesterday before Justice James Bovell-Drakes at the Demerara Assizes, but has been postponed to next Monday.The delay came about, the accused explained, because he had not been told earlier about the trial, so that he could have made arrangements to retain his lawyer. The accused declared that the lawyer of his choosing was in Berbice, and he did not get the opportunity to retain him through his mother, who is in Linden.

He told the court that from yesterday he would have started making arrangements in this regard, and agreed that if he did not succeed in getting his chosen lawyer, he would accept one chosen by the State to represent him.

Thus the Judge adjourned the hearing to next Monday, and instructed jury members to return then, when 12 of them would be empanelled to try the case.