Friday, August 12, 2011

NEWS ARTICLE 12/08/2011

Accused triple murderer will make third bid for bail

Accused murderer Max Sica is set to apply for bail for the third time so he can better prepare to represent himself at his upcoming Supreme Court trial.


The long-awaited trial - at which he is to plead not guilty to murdering girlfriend Neelma Singh and her two younger siblings - is listed to begin in January next year.


Due to Mr Sica's inability to fund his own legal representation and his refusal of taxpayer-funded Legal Aid Queensland lawyers for his trial, Mr Sica is planning on defending himself.


The 40-year-old father of three has been on remand since his arrest in November 2008 and has been denied two previous attempts at release on bail.


The Queensland Court of Appeal has also denied Mr Sica's appeal against a Supreme Court judge's refusal to release him.


But this morning in the Brisbane Supreme Court, his lawyer Sam Di Carlo foreshadowed another bail application based on Mr Sica's problems accessing evidence in his case while in Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre.


He said Mr Sica requires all the evidence including crime scene photos, witness statements and police allegations against him in order to prepare his own defence.


He said accessing all the documents and files has been made difficult because of the prison rules and lack of facilities at the jail.


Justice John Byrne agreed a bail application "might be an application that is worthy of consideration".


Mr Di Carlo said a 24-hour curfew could be placed on Mr Sica, as well as a condition he wear an ankle bracelet which could monitor his movements.


Mr Sica was brought from jail today and told the court he should be allowed to interview witnesses in his case in an unmonitored interview room in the prison.


He also wanted access to an unmonitored internet connection to send emails and do legal research as well an unmonitored phone line and a printer and a fax to be able to correspond with witnesses in his case.


He said such things would be "my normal legal right" in order to prepare his own defence case.


But Justice Byrne said that was "quite the shopping list" reminded Mr Sica it was his choice to refuse Legal Aid lawyers and his choice to represent himself.


In making that choice there were disadvantages, he said.


Corrective Services representatives informed the court they could address some of Mr Sica's requests, but Mr Di Carlo labelled that "lip service."


"That's what they say, but it's just not so," he said.


Justice Byrne told Mr Di Carlo to put any specific complaints in writing.


Pre-trial argument regarding the murder trial is listed to begin on September 12.


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