A murder trial stemming from the death of an east Auckland man has been postponed.
Defendants Greg Hart and Sean Andrew Hayde are charged with murdering Wiremu Arapo, 27, who died following a fire at his home in Minerva Terrace, Cockle Bay, in October, 2020.
Their trial was scheduled to begin on March 7 and was expected to take four weeks.
Following the fire, Counties Manukau Police said they were not treating the incident as suspicious and would refer Arapo’s death to the coroner.
About a month later, police said a homicide investigation had been launched and asked for people with relevant information or video footage of the fire to make contact.
Police later announced they had arrested two 32-year-old men and charged them with Arapo’s murder.
The pair, Hart and Hayde, eventually appeared in the Auckland High Court where they pleaded not guilty to the charge.
A High Court staff member told the Times on March 7 the trial has been vacated.
A new trial date is expected to be set on March 9.
