The appeal trial in France of a Chilean man found guilty of murdering his Japanese ex-girlfriend in 2016 was pushed to Thursday, as the accused sought a change in lawyer.
Last year, a court found Nicolas Zepeda guilty of murdering 21-year-old Narumi Kurosaki in Besançon, in eastern France in a trial that gripped national headlines in France, Chile and Japan.
Zepeda, who was sentenced to 28 years in jail, said he was innocent and appealed the verdict. Kurosaki's body has not been found.
The appeal trial was initially due to start on Tuesday, but was suspended as the accused no longer wanted his lawyer to represent him.
The court agreed to push the opening of the trial to Thursday, so a new lawyer could prepare for the hearings, Reuters reporters at the court heard.
Randall Schwerdorffer, a lawyer for Kurosaki's family, said that Zepeda had had a year to prepare for the appeal trial and that what he called "toxic" changes were taking their toll on Kurosaki's family, who travelled to France for the hearings.
"Whether Mr Zepeda agrees or not, this appeal trial will take place at one point. We are ready," Schwerdorffer said, adding: "I'm looking forward for the trial to resume... so we can go to the bottom of this."
(This story has been corrected to say 'ex-girlfriend' in the headline, not 'ex-Japanese girlfriend.')
(Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
