Libya’s former dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s son, Saadi, has appeared in a Tripoli court on charges of murder over repression of protesters during the North African country’s 2011 revolution.

The court hearing took place on Sunday and Gaddafi’s third oldest son attended his trial in a prison uniform.

The judge, however, consulted with a defense lawyer and later adjourned the hearing to December 6. No reasons were given for the postponement.

Saadi is facing charges of killing a former football coach at Tripoli’s Al-Ittihad football club in 2005. His hearing opened in May. He is also facing charges in connection with the 2011 repression.

The 42-year-old fled to Niger across the Sahara Desert following the ouster and killing of his father in the 2011 uprising.

The trial came days after Human Rights Watch said its officials met with Saadi at Tripoli's Al-Hadba prison, where Saadi said he was subjected to human rights violations.

"He said lawyers were not present during any of the interrogation sessions, where, he alleged, prosecution officials had intimidated and threatened him and other witnesses," HRW said.

Three of Gaddafi’s sons were killed during the uprising in 2011. Gaddafi was also captured and killed by revolutionary forces in the same year.

Gaddafi’s more prominent son, Saif al-Islam, was sentenced to death for his involvement in a crackdown on the 2011 revolution that led to his father's ouster. He has been held in Zintan since his capture in November 2011.

Libya has been torn apart by internal conflict between rival governments in Tripoli and Tobruk and the powerful militias battling one another across the country for control over key cities and resources.