POLICE were put on notice in Bathurst Local Court on Monday after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) asked for an adjournment on a matter which is already seven months old.
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Magistrate Michael Allen said the practice note had "well and truly been breached" in the matter involving Bathurst man Michael Nick Saban, which has already been before the court seven times since he was taken into custody in September last year.
Saban was arrested and charged by police with wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and common assault following an alleged incident at Gormans Hill on September 9 last year.
DPP solicitor Ms Martin asked for the matter to be adjourned on the basis that DNA and transcripts were still outstanding in the matter.
But Saban's solicitor Phillip Blaxwell took exception to the request, saying the matter was already old.
Mr Allen queried the delay.
"This is slack on the part of the police," he said, adding every time the matter was adjourned it cost the accused money.
"The costs are being extended because of the inactivity of the informant,” he said.
"These are serious allegations; the person is in custody. The community deserves better.”
He also questioned why NSW Police, with all its resources, hadn't been able to comply with directions given by the court.
He said he proposed to list the matter for committal hearing on May 1, with no further adjournments.
"The practice note [on this matter] has been well and truly breached,” he said. “It was first before the court in September 2016."
