The National Prosecuting Authority is forging ahead with the criminal trials of 16 mineworkers accused of murders committed before and after the Marikana massacre.These cases were put on hold when their lawyers argued that they were potential witnesses in the Farlam Commission of Inquiry.On Friday, the NPA confirmed that a number of murder trials would start at the Rustenburg Magistrate's Court on October 20. They include:Thirteen miners accused of murdering warrant officers Sello Lepaaku and Hendrick Monene, who were hacked to death on August 13 2012;Five miners accused of the murders of Lonmin security guards Frans Mabelane and Hassan Fundi, who were hacked and burnt to death;Thirteen miners accused of the murder of Isaiah Twala, a National Union of Mineworkers shop steward, who had been stabbed; andSeveral others accused of the murder of NUM branch secretary Daluvuyo Bongo, who was shot dead almost two months after the massacre.Police arrested 279 miners in the aftermath of the massacre, some on charges of murder and others for public violence.They were all released pending further investigation, and last year most of the cases were dropped.NPA North West regional spokesman Frank Lesenyego said the NPA was not in a position to confirm the number of accused.Andries Nkome, a lawyer for the murder-accused miners, said they intended petitioning the courts to withdraw charges. He said his clients were awaiting a response to their civil claim from Police Minister Nathi Nhleko.Nkome is acting for more than 200 miners seeking R800-million in damages from the police, mining company Lonmin and its security company, Protea Coin.Nhleko faces a second lawsuit for R135-million from the families of 37 miners killed in Marikana.On Wednesday, Nhleko told parliament that police were in the process of finding R700-million to fund some of the recommendations made by Judge Ian Farlam. These included appointing experts to look at best practice in public order policing as well as a tactical task team to provide technical support to it...