The High Court trial on the intrusion in Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu, in February 2013 was today postponed to May 17.

Majnah Abdillah, one of the lawyers representing 13 of the Filipino accused, said two more defence witnesses to be called could only be available on May 16.

Trial Judge Stephen Chung set May 17 for continuation of the trial.

The Filipinos and a local man have entered their defence for various offences allegedly committed between Feb 12 and April 10, 2013.

The trial is being conducted at the Sabah Prisons Department.

Some of the accused are facing one to multiple charges of being members of a terrorist group and waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Others are alleged to have wilfully harboured individuals they knew to be members of a terrorist group, or solicited or gave support to a terrorist group.

Meanwhile, Majnah told Bernama that arrangements were being made to repatriate the body of one the accused to the Philippines next week.

Habil Suhaili, 68, who had been suffering from asthma throughout the trial from Jan 6, 2014, died on April 23 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital here.

He had been charged with being a member of a terrorist group together with his son Timhar, 39.

Timhar appeared calm in court following the death of his father and was seen holding and reading a booklet of the Quranic chapter, Yasin.