Friends and family are angry after a trial for two men accused of killing Upper Hutt woman Lois Tolley in 2016 was delayed by seven months.
Lois Tolley Photo: Facebook
The two men, who have name suppression, have pleaded not guilty to charges in relation to her death, with one of the men facing a murder charge.
Their trial had been set down for October but in the High Court in Wellington today Justice Simon France delayed it until May 2021.
Justice France this afternoon granted them continued name suppression until their next court date, set down for 14 August.
About a dozen people in the public gallery were wearing 'Justice for Loie' t-shirts.
As the court adjourned, supporters of the defendants and Tolley exchanged insults.
Lois Tolley's family outside court in October 2019. Photo: RNZ / Jonathan Mitchell
One of Tolley's childhood friends, Deb Adamson, said outside court that friends and family were unhappy with the delay of the trial, having already had to wait too long for justice.
"There's no words that can even come up with how we're feeling."
She said Tolley's friends and family were doing everything they could to keep her memory alive.
Another friend, Shelly, says it was "horrible" the trial date had been pushed. She said it was really difficult for the family to have to face the men and their supporters at their court appearances.
"He's getting three meals a day and she's getting nothing ... it's heartbreaking."
Shelly said she had to have faith the police investigations were on the right track.