The hearing in the murder case against Raymond Davis took place amid high security in Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore, where he is being held, and was adjourned until next on Wednesday.

"March 16 is fixed for the framing of charges because we have given Davis' counsel all the documents they wanted," said public prosector Abdul Samad.

Davis has claimed he acted in self-defence when he shot dead two men in a busy Lahore street in January.

The issue of his claim to diplomatic immunity is pending before the Anti Terrorism Court (ATC), which is due to rule on the issue on March 14.

Asad Manzoor Butt, the lawyer representing the families of the two Pakistani men shot dead by Davis, said that the American had again refused to sign a charge sheet against him. It was given to his lawyer instead, said Butt.

"Davis and his lawyer kept insisting that he has immunity," Butt said.

"Davis is likely to be indicted during the next hearing," he added.

A third Pakistani was struck down and killed by a US diplomatic vehicle that came to Davis's assistance in the January incident.

US officials denied Pakistan access to the vehicle, and the occupants are widely believed to have left the country.

Police have said they recovered a Glock pistol, four loaded magazines, a GPS navigation system and a small telescope from Davis' car after the January 27 shooting.