Defence lawyers quit Bridgecorp trial
Defence lawyers this afternoon pulled out of the Bridgecorp trial leaving directors Rod Petricevic and Rob Roest unrepresented.
Defence lawyers this afternoon pulled out of the Bridgecorp trial leaving directors Rod Petricevic and Rob Roest unrepresented after Justice Geoff Venning declined an eleventh hour bid for legal aid and a permanent stay of proceedings.
An unshaven Mr Petricevic left the court for a private conversation with his departing lawyer.
The trial of Messrs Petricevic and Roest, along with fellow directors Gary Urwin, Peter Steigrad and Bruce Nelson Davidson, wass due to run for 12 weeks from August 8. It will now begin on September 5.
Both bankrupt directors were previously denied legal aid.
In declining legal aid and a permanent stay of proceedings, Justice Venning said it was not an attractive proposition that Mr Petrecevic be unrepresented at the judge alone trial.
Lawyer Charles Cato, who wanted to withdraw from the case because he was not being paid, told Justice Venning on Monday that if an unrepresented Mr Petricevic could not get a fair trial he should not have any trial.
The High Court earlier found former Bridgecorp managing director Mr Petricevic, could afford to be represented and had chosen not to be.
Jock Anderson
Tue, 12 Jul 2011
Tue, 12 Jul 2011
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Defence lawyers quit Bridgecorp trial
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