A HOLD-UP in analysing DNA evidence has forced a delay in the court cases of four men charged with the stabbing murder of a Wagga man and the wounding of a teenager more than three months ago.
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Two brothers, 28-year-old Bevan Dean McKellar and 18-year-old Ethan Wayne McKellar, 20-year-old Luke George Elwood and 27-year-old Douglas James Dennis appeared separately via audio-visual link in Wagga Local Court yesterday.
It was their second court appearance after being charged on May 3 with the murder of a 56-year-old man two days before.
Shortly after Ethan McKellar appeared on screen, Crown representative Virginia Morgan said a large amount of material from a brief of evidence had been served on the defence, but there were a number of items still outstanding.
They included some police statements, forensic reports and certificates from the Department of Health’s Division of Analytical Laboratories (DAL).
“The DAL material is the hold-up,” Mrs Morgan told magistrate Tony Murray.
She said the officer in charge of the investigation had been told by the laboratory on August 9 that DNA results would not be available for three to four months.
However, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions was seeking just a two-month adjournment at this time, Mrs Morgan said.
Asked by Mr Murray if there had been a magistrate’s order made to fast-track the analysis, Mrs Morgan said no.
Both Mrs Morgan and the solicitor for McKellar, Selwyn Hausman, said yes when Mr Murray asked if they were now requesting a fast-track order.
The same processes were followed for Bevan McKellar, Dennis and Elwood as they made their court appearances.
Mr Murray adjourned all four cases to the October 19 sittings of Wagga Local Court.
All four accused have been charged with murder, wounding with intent to murder, aggravated break and enter in company and two counts of reckless wounding.
It is alleged they forced their way into an Ashmont house and stabbed the man and the teenager.
During their first court appearance, the court heard that the case against the men involved a considerable amount of forensic material and the Crown asked for an extended time to produce a brief of evidence.