Pike River Prosecutions – Change to Hearing Date
 
An application has been approved by the Greymouth District Court for a revised date for the first substantive hearing into the charged laid by the Department of Labour following the Pike River explosion.
 
Defence counsel asked for the change of date and the application was supported by the Department.
 
The new hearing date is 31 July 2012. 
 
The charged parties (Peter Whittall, Valley Longwall International Drilling Pty Ltd and Pike River Coal Limited (In Receivership)) were due to appear (and to plead) at the Greymouth District Court on 5 June 2012.
 
Defence counsel indicated they will advise the Court that more time is required to consider the volume of information provided under disclosure rules before providing plea advice to their clients.

ENDS