The defence team of a man accused of murdering a Gozitan local warden asked the court yesterday to give them more time to consult with their client before proceeding with the trial by jury.

Mr Justice Giannino Caruana Demajo upheld the request and the trial, which was scheduled to start yesterday, has now been put off to April.

Court-appointed psychiatrists Anton Grech, Joseph Spiteri and Ethel Felice informed Mr Justice Caruana Demajo last Thursday that Benny Attard was fit to stand trial for the murder of local warden Fortunata Spiteri, who was stabbed to death while on duty in August 2001.

Following the psychiatrists' conclusions, the judge appointed the trial to yesterday morning.

However, lawyers Anglu Farrugia and Mario Scerri, for Mr Attard, asked the judge to put off the trial. They explained that they were only able to consult with Mr Attard over the weekend - following the psychiatrists' conclusions - and thus needed more time to decide how to proceed.

The Attorney General's head of prosecution unit, Anthony Barbara, said that although he was disappointed that the trial was not to proceed as yet, he understood the position of the defence.

Another two men, John Attard and Guzeppi Farrugia, had also been charged over the murder. The case against Mr Attard is still pending while Mr Farrugia passed away before the proceedings against him were concluded.