11 Feb 2011

Replacement jury selected in Ashika trial

3:03 pm on 11 February 2011

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

The 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 Tonga's riots in 2006.

Four accused men, including New Zealander John Jonesse, face charges of manslaughter in relation to the ferry sinking in which 74 people died.

The Shipping Corporation of Polynesia, which operated the ferry when it sank in August 2009, 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.