Witness halts Viet trial again

A WITNESS in a Vietnamese mass murder trial has again refused to continue giving evidence until her demand for compensation from the Government is met.

The decision halted the trial, in its 125th day, for the second time this week.

Bui Thi Ngoan had made her demand on Wednesday and the case was adjourned for counsel to explain the situation to her.

On Thursday, she agreed to continue giving evidence.

But yesterday she told Mr Justice Gall she had changed her mind again.

Ms Bui had been testifying against 13 southern Vietnamese men, aged 19 to 37, who have pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and rioting on February 3 last year, when a hut at the Sek Kong Detention Centre was set ablaze, killing 24 people.