11 Feb 2011

New jury selected in Tonga ferry tragedy trial

12:11 pm on 11 February 2011

A second jury has been selected for the Princess Ashika manslaughter trial in Tonga.

An original jury of four men and three women was selected on Monday but dismissed the next day.

One of the men was found to have a previous conviction stemming from the riots in Tonga's capital, Nuku'alofa in 2006.

Four men face charges of manslaughter in relation to the ferry sinking in August of 2009, in which 74 people died.

The Shipping Corporation of Polynesia, which operated the ferry, is also charged.

The new jury of four men and three women has been sent home and the Crown will begin its case on Monday.

A Crown prosecutor says the new selection took longer than the original because of a more thorough selection process.