The murder trial of 12 suspects accused of stoning a female Police Inspector, Christiana Erekere, to death encountered a delay at the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

The case, which was scheduled for the continuation of the prosecution’s third witness PW3, was stalled due to the absence of one of the defence counsels.

Presiding Judge, Justice Augusta Chukwu, subsequently adjourned the matter to December 18, 2024, for further hearing.During the last hearing, Barikwe Nkwalwo, a witness in the case, recounted how he observed the incident from his wife’s shop, opposite a police checkpoint.

Nkwalwo narrated how the suspects attacked Inspector Erekere, prompting her to hand over her mobile phone to him to prevent it from being stolen.

The 12 suspects, including the groom who was travelling to Akwa-Ibom State for his wedding ceremony, are facing 13 charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, murder, and other capital offences.