'Nauru 19' again seek permanent stay

The trial of the group dubbed the 'Nauru 19' has resumed, with the state again endeavouring to charge them over an anti-government protest in June 2015.

In the new trial, which began on Tuesday, the Nauru 19 are seeking for the second time to have a permanent stay placed on the charges.

The prosecution view is that any attempt to stay the charges cannot be heard since the higher Appeals Court has already ruled on the matter.

In June this year, the Appeals Court overturned a decision granting a permanent stay, given by Australian judge Geof Muecke.

Judge Muecke, who was later sacked by the Nauru Government, had said, in his decision in September, that the Nauru 19 had been poorly served by the judicial process, and he called out the Nauru Government for abuse of process.