Paine accuser in theft case delay
THE woman at the centre of the Tim Paine sexting scandal has had her unrelated stealing court case adjourned yet again, prompting frustration from Magistrate Michael Daley.
Renee Ferguson turned up to court in Hobart on Friday with a new lawyer, Todd Kovacic, after parting ways with barrister Greg Barns.
Mr Kovacic said he would need more time to prepare the case, since the briefs were still locked in Mr Barns’s offices, and Mr Barns was in Melbourne.
He said he had tried to get his hands on the documents, but would not be able to do so until next week.
“I tried your honour,” Mr Kovacic said.
“I’ve made requests, I attempted to be as ready as possible for today – I’m simply not.
“I simply couldn’t be ready for today.”
Mr Daley was concerned by the delay.
“[There is] the appearance that resolution is not something anybody from the detion
fence side wants – that’s the impression,” Mr Daley said.
“The matter needs to be prepared for trial and as I observed … everyone’s got some work to do today.”
The prosecution said it
would be happy to adjourn, saying that it had had been in “fruitful” discussions with the defence counsel.
“I’ve spoken with defence counsel about this and I think there’s real benefit of a mendate,” they said. “I’d be asking the matter adjourn for perhaps two to three weeks.
“I think that would give us an opportunity to see if there’s any room for, perhaps, some pre-facts.”
Ms Ferguson was bailed to reappear before the Hobart Magistrates Court on September 29 at 10am.
Ms Ferguson has previously pleaded not guilty to allegations that she fraudulently took $5600 from Cricket Tasmania in 2017.
The former receptionist is alleged to have taken a $705 Cricket Tasmania junior and platinum membership, a $339 Hobart Hurricanes family membership, and stole $1942 in cash during 2017.
Ms Ferguson has denied the charges and is suing her former employer over allegations she was sexually harassed by four former colleagues, including former Australian cricket captain Tim Paine.
Paine resigned as the men’s Test captain in November last year after it emerged details of Ms Ferguson’s claims against him were to be made public.