KEY POINTS:
A hearing into whether the Chief Coroner can preside over an inquest into the death of Auckland woman Folole Muliaga has been put off until next month.
Mrs Muliaga, 44, of Mangere, died in May after the power to her home was cut by a Mercury Energy contractor because of an overdue power bill.
An inquest into her death was due to begin on November 26 but the Muliaga family want Judge Neil MacLean to step aside because of an alleged conflict of interest arising from his friendship with businessman Rex Williams.
Mr Williams, of Christchurch, is a director at MainPower, a South Island lines company which is a customer of Mighty River Power, the parent company of Mercury Energy.
A hearing into whether Judge MacLean could preside at the inquest was due to be held at the Auckland District Court yesterday, but Muliaga family spokesman Brenden Sheehan said the family received an email yesterday saying the case had been put off until the week starting December 10.
The Muliaga family had sought a deferral of the inquest because of the ill-health of their lawyer.
- NZPA
