In today's hearing, charges against all three defendants were announced. Both Ahzam and Favaz denied the charges. Rifaas asked for a time extension to allow him to seek advice from his lawyer before responding to the charges.
Two of the accused in the murder of Naeema Moosa of Noonu atoll Manadhoo has denied charges in today's hearing at the Criminal Court.
Naeema's body was found in her home with injuries to the neck and various parts of the body two days after she was last seen, following a welfare check conducted due to concerns raised from people who reported her missing.
In the case, the State charged three individuals from Manadhoo. The accused are Ahzam AbduShukoor, 23, of Fehivilaage, Abdul Wahid Rifaas, 20, of Finifenmaage, and Hassan Favaz, 21, of Vinares.
The three are charged with committing murder with a sharp object, obstructing justice and abuse of a corpse.
In today's hearing, charges against all three defendants were announced. Both Ahzam and Favaz denied the charges. Rifaas asked for a time extension to allow him to seek advice from his lawyer before responding to the charges.
The State said that police will today conclude forensic analyses and that the resulting report would be submitted to court within a month.
Both the prosecution and defence will present evidence at the next hearing.
Police have earlier said that although the motive for Naeema Moosa's murder is the perpetrators' suspicion that she practiced black magic, authorities have found no evidence that Naeema engaged in any such activities.