Lawyers sacked again

Murder accused dismisses second solicitor

THE man accused of the stabbing murder of his long-term partner at Woree almost two years ago has sacked his second solicitor.

Ricky James Cowan appeared in the Cairns Magistrates Court yesterday via video link from Lotus Glen Correctional Centre.

Solicitor Tom Eckersley of Richardson Eckersley in Cairns, who was representing Cowan via Legal Aid Queensland, told the court he had taken part in a video conference with Cowan on May 9, at which time Mr Cowan terminated his services.

Mr Eckersley said he had notified Legal Aid of the situation but a new solicitor had not been nominated.

“In respect to my position it’s quite plainly clear that I can’t continue to act,” he said.

“We were the second set of lawyers, the first one also being terminated.”

Magistrate Robert Spencer granted Mr Eckersley leave to withdraw from the case.

“We’ll see if we can get this thing sorted out because it’s not going ahead very far and this matter has been before the court since October 2016,” Magistrate Robert Spencer said.

“There’s a lot of work that still has to be done.”

Cowan is charged with the murder of his long-term partner Crystal Ratcliffe, 38, at a Woomala St home in Woree on October 13, 2016.

Ms Ratcliffe was declared dead at the scene, while Cowan was taken to Cairns Hospital in a critical condition also suffering stab wounds.

The couple’s two children had arrived home from school just after 3pm on the day to find the property taped off and police swarming the area.

Cowan is charged with one count of murder as well as one count of unlawfully assault or resist, or wilfully obstruct a public officer while the officer is performing a function of the officer’s office.

He was yesterday remanded in custody and will reappear in the Cairns Magistrates Court next week.

Cowan’s case is expected to eventually be upgraded to a higher court.