Three men accused of murdering a prisoner in his jail cell will stand trial next year.
Benton Marni Parata was allegedly attacked in his high-security Rawhiti unit cell at Christchurch Men's Prison on March 25 this year. He died in hospital five days later.
Steven Betham, a 36-year-old labourer, Akuhatua Tihi, 22, from Toi Toi, Nelson, and Levi Hohepa Reuben, 21, have been charged with his murder between March 25 and March 30.
Today at a callover hearing in the High Court at Christchurch today, Justice Cameron Mander set down a three-week trial to begin on May 9 next year.
A pre-trial hearing has been arranged for October 23.
