Family in limbo as trial date lags

THE family of a father allegedly killed in a neighbourhood brawl say they are in limbo as his accused attacker is free on bail.

Kane Barry died on September 21, 2014, after an alleged fight with his neighbour, Nathan Sanchez, outside his Southport unit complex five days earlier.

Sanchez was committed to stand trial in March last year for murder. But almost three years after Mr Barry’s death, no trial date has been set in the Brisbane Supreme Court.

The delay has left Mr Barry’s loved ones desperate for answers and closure.

“It has been so long now,” former partner Danielle Roberts said. “We all feel like it’s just dragging on and on. There doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. The justice system seems to be very slow-moving.

“Trials for other crimes that happened after Kane’s death have been and gone, yet we are still waiting.”

Gold Coast defence lawyers and prosecutors say a two-to-three-year wait for trial is normal today.

Some point the finger at magistrates being too soft on police to complete briefs; others say the Brisbane Supreme Court calendar is too full. Another prominent Gold Coast lawyer believed the case would reach court this year.

Gold Coast lawyer Chris Nyst said lag times were getting worse and the Moynihan reforms had made police less inclined to gather evidence quickly.

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“We try to keep her busy, to keep her mind occupied. She asks me a lot what will happen to the person who did this to her daddy, she does have a lot of anger and confusion.

“She watches the news and sees tragedies happen almost every day. It helps her understand she is not alone.”

Miss Roberts said she hoped as Ellie-May got older things would get easier for her.

But in the meantime the two will keep looking out for

flickering lights and feathers, signs that “Daddy is here”, according to little Ellie-May.

Child psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg said it could be tricky for children to understand death.

“Six is a very interesting age psychologically, they’re just beginning to have an understanding of death, but it’s still hard to process,” he said. “It is important for parents to look out for signs of being withdrawn, or not making friends.”