Texas (CMC):

A United States federal judge has granted a request by Sir Allen Stanford to move to another jail in Texas so he can review his documents with his lawyer.

US District Judge David Hittner, on Monday, authorised Sir Allen's move from Conroe jail, 40 miles north of Texas, to a US federal detention centre in Houston by Thursday.

He said Sir Allen, 59, will remain there until his trial, which prosecutors said could take up to a year to get under way.

"The court recognises the extraordinary nature and com-plexity of this case, the extent and gravity of the charges levied against Stanford, the hundreds of records involved, and the enormous amount of time no doubt necessary to review those documents and adequately prepare a defence," Hittner wrote.

The decision comes just days after the disgraced financier, who had built-up a corporate empire in Antigua and Barbuda, was injured in a fight with another inmate. Sir Allen sustained a concussion and a broken nose during the altercation.

But, his lawyer, Kent Schaffer said the transfer was not related to the brawl that caused his client to be hospitalised.