Crown Court Judge Paul Thomas KC has vented his spleen after the Counsel involved in the case of two Haverfordwest men charged with wounding announced that they would be unable to attend their trial.
Gareth Roberts and Jedd Hitchings were listed to stand trial on March 13 after the Counsel, which included each of the barristers who are involved in the case, agreed on the date last November.
But this morning, when the case was brought before Swansea Crown Court, each of the barristers confirmed that they will be otherwise engaged.
“If this date was previously listed back in November, why is the Counsel no longer available?” asked Justice Paul Thomas.
“If a trial is listed well in advance for the benefit and convenience of the barristers involved, that should be seen as priority. Anything that comes in later should take its chances.
“While I know that the current shortage of Counsel is a nationwide problem that leads to difficulties, I’m unhappy that barristers have cases listed for their convenience only to be told they’re are subsequently double-booked. This has got to stop.”
Gareth Roberts and Jedd Hitchings are jointly charged with wounding with intent to inflict grevious bodily harm during an incident alleged to have taken place in Haverfordwest town centre on December 14, 2021.
Both defendants have been remanded in custody.
Meanwhile Judge Paul Thomas KC instructed the Crown and defence barristers to return to Swansea Crown Court next Wednesday to further discuss the delay.
“I expect, by then, to have the explanations I require for your failures to attend,” he said.
“There have to be further efforts put in to see if this case can be salvaged for trial on its present date.”
