Concerns over judge flying solo
Stab victim supported diversion
AN association of family lawyers has raised the alarm on the lack of Federal Circuit Court judges in Tasmania – with only one left to deal with the state’s entire family law caseload.
In November last year, Hobart-based Judge Barbara Baker formally retired from the court, with Launcestonbased Judge Terry McGuire since managing solo.
Chair of the Tasmanian Family Law Practitioners Association, Julia Higgins, said Judge Baker needed to be replaced as soon as possible to ensure there were enough judicial resources in the state.
“Judge McGuire is hearing all matters on the North-West Coast, Launceston and Hobart,” she said.
“This means there is not sufficient judicial resources in Tasmania to hear cases in a timely manner and this is unacceptable,” she said.
“It means … vulnerable Tasmanians are not able to access justice in a timely manner.”
A MAN accused of stabbing his Tasmanian girlfriend to death had come to the attention of police for lashing out at her in her car just months before, a court has heard.
Ricardo Barbaro, 34, is on remand charged with murdering 26-year-old mum Ellie Price at her South Melbourne home on April 29 last year.
He plans to contest the killing charge at a three-day hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court in May. But it can be revealed Mr Barbaro was to appear at the same court on Tuesday, charged with a separate offence — intentionally damaging property.
Magistrate Luisa Bazzani said the charge related to an incident involving Ms Price on November 1, 2019.
“The accused and his then partner, Ms Price, were in her vehicle, and the accused damaged her vehicle by hitting out around the vehicle,” Ms Bazzani said. “Diversion was considered because at that point in time Mr Barbaro had no prior history.”
She said court documents indicated Ms Price, who grew up at Rokeby, was supportive of the diversion.
“And then, tragically, this woman’s died, allegedly at the hands of Mr Barbaro,” Ms Bazzani said.
A police summary released from the court alleged the couple had been out at dinner in South Melbourne when “an argument ensued” on the drive home. “As they continued arguing, the accused began punching the inside of the victim’s vehicle,” the summary alleged.
“The accused punched the windscreen, glass dashboard, and passenger-side mirror (through the open window), damaging each of them.”
Mr Barbaro, who did not appear for Tuesday’s hearing, was arrested in Sydney and extradited to Victoria a week after police found the beauty diploma student’s body at her apartment on May 4.
Her Tasmanian-based mother, Tracey Gangell, asked them to do a welfare check on her daughter as she could not reach her. An earlier court sitting heard how CCTV captured Mr Barbaro leaving her apartment about 4.30am on April 29.
Police allege he killed her then fled to NSW.
But his lawyer, Mark Gumbleton, told the court in October a “central issue” was who actually killed Ms Price, suggesting another man had a motive to murder her.
Mr Gumbleton said there was evidence Ms Price had threatened an accountant friend that she would go to the police to say he raped her if he didn’t give her $25,000.
Mr Barbaro will reappear on March 18.