The murder trial involving Durban siblings Nicolette and Hardus Lotter was on Friday remanded to July in the Durban High Court.
This is due to a legal battle between the siblings’ attorney Danie Grundlingh and the Legal Aid board over who will represent them.
The Lotters and Mathew Naidoo are accused of killing the siblings’ parents at their Westville home last year.
Naidoo was released on bail in February while his two co-accused remained behind bars.
In court on Friday, it emerged that a date for the State to appeal Naidoo’s bail application had not yet been set down.
The State was granted leave to appeal the bail decision in March as they believed the magistrate who granted bail had misdirected himself.
Meanwhile, the matter between the siblings’ attorney and the Legal Aid board was set down for argument on September 4.
The problem arose when Grundlingh, who had been appointed by the board to represent the siblings, insisted the board appoint another advocate and secure three ”occult specialists” in preparation for a defence of Satanism, but the board refused.
When Grundlingh pursued the matter, his contract with the board was terminated.
The siblings subsequently launched an application to force the board to appoint legal representatives of their choice.
The civil tussle is pending.
Judge Ron Mclaren on Friday remanded the criminal case to July 7.
Naidoo’s bail was extended while the siblings were remanded in custody. — Sapa