One of three men charged with the murder of Auckland dairy worker Janak Patel has been granted a stay in court proceedings, due to being terminally ill.
Patel was working at the Rose Cottage Suprette in Sandringham, when he was killed following a robbery in November 2022.
He was stabbed to death near the dairy after pursuing and confronting a man who had stolen a cash register.
Frederick Hobson, who stabbed Patel, pleaded guilty to murder last month.
However, co-defendants Henry Fred and Shane Tane had earlier pleaded not guilty.
On Wednesday at the High Court in Auckland, Justice Graham Lang granted a stay in court proceedings for Henry Fred due to his terminal illness, after receiving direction from the Solicitor-General.
A stay halts court proceedings, but can be lifted by a judge at a later date, allowing a trial to proceed.
Meanwhile, Shane Tane is set to go to trial in May 2025.