Six-week adjournment granted in Corey Power murder case

The cases of Owen Fuller, Nathan Blundell, Thomas McGill, Tamsin Paul and Annette Allen were mentioned in Wagga Local Court on Wednesday after a six-week adjournment agreed on June 3 for the Crown and defence solicitors to hold talks.

The cases were mentioned by Crown solicitor Rennae Gee, who told magistrate Erin Kennedy she had just returned from extended leave and would like a six-week adjournment.

Up until now, Crown files for the cases have been managed by another solicitor.

Ms Kennedy granted the adjournment and stood all cases over until August 26, at which time progress towards committal hearings is expected.

Fuller, 19, has been charged with murdering 33-year-old father of one Corey Power in a Young street on August 29, 2013.

Blundell, 22, a friend of Fuller, has also been charged with murder, as well as being an accessory to murder before the fact.

Charged with being accessories after the fact are Fuller’s brother, McGill, his mother, Allen, and his partner, Paul.

All three are also charged with being accessories after the fact of an armed robbery Fuller is alleged to have committed.

Tensions rose briefly during the mention when Allen’s solicitor told Ms Kennedy he had not been served a brief of evidence despite being in the case for three months.

The claim contradicted information given to the court by the Crown on June 3 that briefs of evidence had been served in full on defence lawyers.

Ms Gee affirmed on Wednesday the briefs had been served.

“I suggest you have another look,” a police officer assisting Ms Gee said to the solicitor, who shot back: “As an officer of the court I have not seen it, thank you.”

He then said he would have discussions outside the courtroom with the police officer about the brief.

Ms Kennedy adjourned Allen’s case for two weeks to allow the issue to be sorted out, and excused Allen attending court on that day.

McGill and Allen are on bail, while Fuller, Blundell and Paul are on remand and did not appear in court.

Fuller’s solicitor, Shawn Mortimer, told Ms Kennedy that Fuller may be in a position to enter pleas on five unrelated charges on August 26.