A trial date has been set for two boat drivers accused of causing the death of a Tenterden woman in Brazil.

The men are due to appear in court in Manaus on Wednesday, April 15, charged with manslaughter.

But the family of Gillian Metcalf say they have been warned by their lawyer in Brazil that the trial may not be held over consecutive days and there may be adjournments.

Mrs Metcalf’s husband, Charlie, said: “It is so frustrating.

“I want to take an English lawyer out there with me, but it is impossible to gauge how long that will be for – I am not sure how we are supposed to run our lives.

“Our Brazilian lawyer has said I can have my statement read out, but that is not what we want. We want to be there and have our say for Gill.

“We are asking for some guarantees that we can be heard.”

Lawyer Mrs Metcalf, 50, of Plummer Lane, Tenterden, was killed during a holiday in Brazil in September, 2013.

She, her husband and their daughters Natasha and Alice were in a boat when they were struck by another vessel on the Rio Negro in Amazonia.

The family were just days into a 12-day tour of the South American country.

Mr Metcalf and his daughters campaigned for the boat drivers to be prosecuted. Last year, he and Natasha visited the country giving TV and media interviews to highlight their case.

Mr Metcalf said that getting the trial date was good news but was also very concerning.

“For a local person, it does not matter if the trial is not on consecutive days,” he said. “Our legal representative has said there could be adjournments for various reasons, including the judge being called to another trial.

“I and one of my daughters want to be there all the time the court is sitting and I want to give evidence.

“Natasha is due to take her finals in her biology degree at Warwick University in April so this will play havoc with them.

“It is very difficult but we just want to do everything we can for Gill.”

Alice is studying history and geography at Leeds University.

Mrs Metcalf had been a partner at Sharratts affordable housing law firm, based in Brasted, since 1999.

Stories you might have missed

“I’m so lucky the belt snapped”

Big Stig in low gear move through Kent

A pain in the drain - Kent's sewer blockers revealed

Parents fight to save 140-year-old village school from closure