Doan Thi Huong's trial continues until next year

Lawyers say a verdict in the case of two female suspects accused of murdering the alleged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could not be reached until the second quarter of 2018.

According to StraitsTimes, prosecutors today (November 16) closed another week of the trial that began in early October. In addition, the trial will be extended beyond the previous scheduled date of November 30.

Photo: AP

Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Doan Thi Huong, 29, have been charged with murder. Both women say they were tricked into taking part in a reality TV show.

The prosecution had planned for the trial to last 23 days, over two months, with 153 witnesses called. However, so far, the court has heard testimony from only 18 people.

The trial is currently scheduled to last until March 22, 2018. The next scheduled trial will take place on November 28, lasting four days, and will continue in January, February, and March 2018. The specific date and time will be determined by the court.

Defense attorney Salim Bashir said that once the prosecution finishes its case, it will take a month or more for the judge to issue a verdict.

According to FoxNews, the prosecution has summoned several key witnesses who had direct contact with "Kim Jong Nam" in his final moments.

So far, the testimony of investigating officer Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz has been the longest, more than 2 weeks. The defense has asked him to return to testify.

The North Korean citizen was waiting for a flight to Macau on February 13 at Kuala Lumpur airport, Malaysia, when Siti Aisyah and Huong smeared a liquid on his face. He died two hours later.

Police arrested two female suspects based on security camera footage. Evidence presented in court showed that their clothes had traces of the nerve agent VX.

According to Vietnamnet.vn