THE evidence presented at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika will not be admissible in the manslaughter trial set to begin on February 7 at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court, but the prosecution is expected to call their own witnesses.

Sione Sisifa the Crown Prosecutor told Matangi Tonga Online on January 24, the evidence that was presented in the Royal Commission of Inquiry could not be used in the jury trial. However, he said that the Crown Prosecution can present their own evidence in court by calling the same witnesses to give evidence.

"We cannot use any evidence and refer to it that someone said this in the inquiry. We will present our own evidence in court," he said.

The Final Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry would not be used in court as evidence as it is the Royal Commission's own findings at the end of its sitting.

The Crown is expected to call 30 witnesses to give evidence during the one-month jury trial.

The four accused men are SCP Managing Director John Jonesse, Captain Makahokovalu Tuputupu, First mate Semisi Pomale, Acting Director of Marine Viliami Tu'ipulotu who along with the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd, are each charged with manslaughter by negligence over the death of a young mother, Vae Fetu'u Taufa and other charges in the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika in 2009.

The defendants have pleaded not guilty to over 40 offences in total.