Manslaughter charges brought against Micevic

Australian players stand in silence as a tribute to David Hookes before the start of the VB Series match against India © Getty

Australian prosecutors have formally filed manslaughter charges against Zdravco Micevic in relation to the death of David Hookes on Monday. Micevic's lawyer told the court that his client would be pleading not guilty.

In court it was revealed that Micevic, a former amateur boxer, had been forced to leave his home after receiving death threats. "The publicity has led to the fact that my client has been receiving hate mail and death threats at his home," his lawyer told the court. "The media has camped outside his house 12 hours a day, his family has been forced to flee their own home."

The magistrate stressed the need for Micevic to be given a fair hearing in the light of intense - and often contradictory - reporting of the assault. He told the court: "It's in no-one's interest to have such proceedings damaged by unfair reporting or comment."

Micevic's bail was extended, and the case adjourned until April 13.