A high-profile Adelaide lawyer has expressed concern about the ongoing impact of coronavirus on criminal trials, after a defendant admitted to experiencing flu-like symptoms in the days prior to his hearing.A lawyer called for police to do more to keep coronavirus out of the courtsThe 28-year-old man faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court this week charged with drug trafficking and arson offences.
The man said he did not notify the court of his symptoms because he did not want to get in trouble for not appearing. Magistrate Sheppard said there were more important concerns and told the man to immediately leave the building and wait outside for further instructions. Criminal lawyer Craig Caldicott said lawyers and the courts had discussed coronavirus in depth but South Australia Police was best placed to notify people of their responsibilities.
He said SA Police should"be doing a bit more" to notify people of social-isolation and distancing rules during the coronavirus pandemic."I suspect that they should be doing a bit more to inform unrepresented persons about what's going on," he said."Unless the client wanders off to find a lawyer, then the person's not going to know what's going on and what they can and cannot do.""On the bail form there are important things like your bail conditions.