The Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial which was scheduled to begin today has been postponed to June 18 following an application by the prosecution in the Shah Alam High Court this morning.

Judge Mohd Zaki Md Yasin allowed the high-profile murder case to be adjourned after the court was told that a new team of prosecutors had taken over the handling of the case on a short notice and that they needed more time to study it.

"Taking into account that there are foreign witnesses present, I will grant an adjournment of only two weeks. Trial will start on the 18th of June," Mohd Zaki told a packed courtroom.

Lead prosecutor Tun Majid Tun Hamzah had asked for one month to prepare for the trial after "a sudden twist of events".

"I was only informed to take over this case yesterday in the evening when I was on my way home. It's beyond me. I simply cannot prosecute this case at such short notice," the senior prosecutor told the court.

"I have more than 100 statements and investigation papers to go through. It is only right to allow us to conduct the prosecution well."

Karpal Singh who was holding a watching brief for Altantuya's family then argued that the cost of the month-long visit to Malaysia by the three Mongolian witnesses and two interpreters was being paid with taxpayers' money.

"A one-month postponement would be unreasonable. I suggest two weeks and not more," he said.

He also demanded an explanation as to why the prosecution team was changed overnight.

Tun Majid replied: "I am not privy to that information", before issuing apologies to the defence lawyers and Altantuya's family members.

Meanwhile, Karpal made an application for one of the defence lawyers to be disqualified because he has family relations with the judge.

"Counsel Hazman Ahmad's late wife was the niece of Mohd Zaki. Justice must not only be done but must seen to be done. He must be disqualified," he said.

Hazman who is representing chief inspector Azilah Hadri said that while the facts are true it does not mean that the trial will be conducted unfairly.

After deliberating for several minutes, Mohd Zaki dismissed Karpal's application.

Packed courtroom

Another lawyer, Wong Kian Kheong, applied for a discharge not amounting to an acquittal or bail in the alternative for his client, political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda.

"By virtue of the fact that the prosecution is not ready, my client should at least receive a discharge not amounting to acquittal or released on bail. He's not going to run away," he said before Mohd Zaki allowed the court to stand down.

Twenty minutes later, Mohd Zaki returned and dismissed Wong's application and set June 18 with a two-month extension if necessary for the trial to be heard. He adjourned the proceedings soon after.

The courtroom which could accommodate about 60 people, was filled an hour before the proceedings began.

There were over 100 people, with some 30 standing. Extra benches were being brought in amidst a commotion outside when the three accused entered the courtroom.

As the handcuffs were taken off Razak, he embraced his wife Mazlinda Makhzan and daughter Rowina before the trial started. His family sat close by while he took a seat in the dock alongside the other two accused.

Charged with the murder are policemen Azilah Hadri, 31, and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, 36, for allegedly committing the murder in Mukim Bukit Raja, Selangor, between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20 last year.

Razak, 47, is accused of abetting the two special action force personnel, allegedly committing the offence at the Bangunan Getah Asli in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, between 9.54am and 11.05am on Oct 18 last year.

If convicted, all three face the death penalty.

The case has gained international prominence due to the personalities involved - Abdul Razak is a known associate of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Altantuya's family - her father and three cousins are here as prosecution witnesses - also filed RM100 million civil suit this morning against the Malaysian government and the three defendants.