Kelepi Kolinisau and Selema Tikoenaburevere

The High court will make a ruling  on whether the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission has any standing in a criminal trial.

The ruling will be made in February next year.

This is in relation to a matter whereby two police officers are alleged to have killed a local rugby player in September this year.

The Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission has filed a notice of motion to observe the court proceedings in relation to two police officers facing murder charges.

Kelepi Kolinisau and Selema Tikoenaburevere are alleged to have killed Josua Lalauvaki following an assault outside a nightclub in Suva on September 2nd.

Lalauvaki died in hospital last month as a result of injuries allegedly sustained in the assault.

The Human Right Commission lawyer yesterday claimed in court that they have the powers to intervene in such proceedings.

However, this was objected by the defense counsels.

According to the two counsels, there is no need for the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission to intervene in the matter.

The High court Judge has asked the state lawyer and the defense counsels to respond to the notice of motion.

The matter has been adjourned to February 25th.

Meanwhile, Kolinisau and Tikoenaburevere have applied for bail.

A bail ruling will be delivered by the High court next Friday.