15 Oct 2009

More delays possible in Moti sex trial in Brisbane

8:08 pm on 15 October 2009

The child sex trial in Brisbane of Julian Moti may face lengthy delays if his lawyers are successful in stalling their current application to have the charges dropped.

The former Solomon Islands attorney-general's trial on seven counts of engaging in sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 16 is currently listed for four weeks in November.

The charges relate to the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl in Noumea and Vanuatu in 1997.

Mr Moti's lawyers are arguing in the Supreme Court in Brisbane for the charges to be dropped on the grounds that his removal from Solomon Islands was unlawful.

During that application this week his lawyer, Jim Kennan, asked for a two-week adjournment so his legal team could study new documents provided to them by the prosecution.

Mr Kennan argued familiarity with the documents was crucial to the stay application, and says their late delivery was representative of the prosecution's attempt to resist disclosure.

If Justice Debbie Mullins allows the two-week adjournment, the trial date in November will be vacated.