Qld: Patel to face trial on March 22, 2010

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2009
Qld: Patel to face trial on March 22, 2010

By David Barbeler

BRISBANE, Aug 14 AAP - Former Bundaberg surgeon Jayant Patel will face a jury trial
starting on March 22, a court heard on Friday.

The trial is expected to run between 10 and 12 weeks.

Patel, 59, will face three charges of manslaughter, two of grievous bodily harm and
an alternative charge of negligent acts causing harm.

The charges all relate to Patel's time as director of surgery at Bundaberg Base Hospital
between 2003 and 2005.

Patel has been charged with the manslaughter of James Phillips, Mervyn Morris and Gerardus Kemps.

He has also been charged with grievous bodily harm for surgery he conducted on Darcy
Blight and Ian Vowles.

Justice John Byrne will be the judge for the trial, to be held in the Supreme Court in Brisbane.

In that court on Friday, Patel's defence lawyer Michael Byrne, QC, advised he would
not be applying for a judge-only trial.

Justice Debbie Mullins, who presided at Friday's hearing, wanted the trial to be heard
earlier in the year due to its length but Mr Byrne has another matter before the courts
then.

Mr Byrne asked the court to be supplied with a list of witnesses the prosecution intends
to call, arguing that it heard from only a "fraction" of them during the committal hearing
in February.

Justice Mullins ordered the list to be given to the defence before September 11. A
review has been set for October 16.

AAP djb/pjo/jhp

KEYWORD: PATEL WRAP

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