A SOLICITOR defending four alleged drug traffickers wants their proceedings delayed until a co-accused’s matter has been resolved in the Mount Isa Supreme Court.
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Guest Lawyers solicitor Adam Guest said the co-accused was also a witness to the police investigation. It’s her evidence that determines a case against one of his clients.
Mr Guest said there may be an issue of correct identification and therefore he needs to cross-examine the witness after she was sentenced in Supreme Court. He represents Zach Aaron Sarmardin, Kayne Gerard Slann, Dane Robert Inwood, and Bradley Alan Hilton.
Magistrate James Morton adjourned their matters until November 17 so that the court could review how to continue, but he was reluctant to delay justice further. They had been in the court system among more than 20 alleged traffickers since August last year.
Mr Morton was concerned that the co-accused matter in the Supreme Court would take a lengthy amount of time, and would therefore delay these matters further.
“I want some movement on this now.”
Another alleged drug trafficker, Shane Parkes, was also heard in the Mount Isa Magistrates Court. He was also charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle which caused the death of his son, and is scheduled to appear in the Supreme Court on related matters.
At his last mention the court heard that he was above Legal Aid Qld’s financial threshold and that he was appealing the decision.
Legal Aid solicitor Rhianna Batt said in court on Friday that Legal Aid Queensland’s Ipswich office would represent Mr Parkes. Now that the financial matter was resolved the prosecution could release its evidence against Mr Parkes to the legal representative.
Mr Parkes’ matter was also adjourned to November 17. The magistrate ordered that Mr Parkes appear in person.
“I don’t want anyone turning up saying they do not have any instructions,” Mr Morton said.