Vermeulen trial postponed once again

The Zimbabwe High Court has once again postponed the trial of Mark Vermeulen, the country's former batsman, who is facing charges of arson to enable medical examinations into his mental fitness to continue. The outcome of the examination will determine whether he is fit to stand trial.

Vermeulen was charged last year after he allegedly set on fire to the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy in Harare. He was also accused of setting ablaze a section of Harare Sports Club (HSC), which houses Zimbabwe Cricket's (ZC) headquarters.

Legal experts say should Vermeulen be convicted, he faces up to 25 years in jail.

His lawyer, advocate Eric Matinenga, in an interview yesterday said: "He's been remanded to June 15. There are still medical consultations [regarding his state of mind] to be done and that has necessitated the remand."

Vermeulen was granted Zim$500,000 bail ($2,000 at the official rate but $11 on the black market) last November and ordered to surrender title deeds worth Zim$300 million and travel documents to the court as part of the conditions.

He has also been allowed to play in domestic competitions, pending the outcome of his trial.