A South African court has postponed the trial of the son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher until April of next year.
Mark Thatcher briefly appeared before a magistrate in Cape Town Thursday, to face charges he violated South Africa's anti-mercenary laws by helping to finance a foiled coup plot in Equatorial Guinea. He was not asked to plead to the charges.
The court postponed the start of the trial until April 8 to allow prosecutors more time to complete their investigation.
South African prosecutors say Mr. Thatcher, who has lived in South Africa for the past eight years, is one of the key financiers of the plot to oust Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who has led the oil-rich country for 25 years.