April 19 has been set for the start of a two-week trial for Asha Ali Abdille, the Somali refugee accused of New Zealand's first aircraft hijacking.
The trial is set to take place in the High Court at Christchurch. Arrangements were settled in a telephone conference between lawyers and Justice Graham Panckhurst today.
Abdille, a Blenheim vineyard worker now aged 35, is accused of attempting to seize control of an Eagle Air flight from Blenheim to Christchurch on February 8 last year, taking an offensive weapon onto an aircraft, and four charges of wounding or injuring with reckless disregard for safety.
Two of the charges relate to the aircraft's pilots who were injured during the incident, which ended when the plane landed at Christchurch.
Abdille has been in custody since her arrest on the day of the incident. She is being held on remand at Arohata Women's Prison in Wellington.
