The Trial Chamber at the Khmer Rouge tribunal will hold a pair of public hearings on Monday of next week involving former Khmer Rouge Brother No 2 Nuon Chea and head of state Khieu Samphan. Lawyers for the ageing defendants have filed challenges against their pre-trial detention and have asked for their immediate release. Their trial, alongside former Khmer Rouge foreign minister Ieng Sary and social action minister Ieng Thirith, is expected to begin within the next six months. Suspects in the case last appeared before the court in February 2010, also to challenge pre-trial detention.