THE seven jurors in the MV Princess Ashika trial are expected to retire tomorrow afternoon, March 30.

Justice Shuster told the court after completing the first part of his final summing today March 29, that he would finish tomorrow morning.

The jury will retire to closed chambers to start deliberating on a verdict after lunch on March 30.

The three women and four men on the jury were selected from various communities in Tonga on February 11, after a first set of jurors were discharged when it was discovered that one member had a criminal record.

The five defendants on trial are the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd., Acting Director of Marine Viliami Tu'ipulotu, former SCP Managing Director John Jonesse, the Ashika captain Viliami Makahokovalu Tuputupu and first mate Semisi Pomale.

They collectively face 30 charges with one similar count of manslaughter by negligence in relation to death of Vaefetu'u Mahe (22) in the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika on August 5, 2009.

The trial has been sitting for over a month now since the Crown called its first witness to give evidence on February 14.