SA: Scientific witness first up in Snowtown committal

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2000
SA: Scientific witness first up in Snowtown committal

A fingerprint expert and three pathologists will be called before the committal hearing
for the bodies-in-the-barrels murder case in Adelaide Magistrates Court next week.

Despite defence requests for more time to prepare, Magistrate DAVID GURRY yesterday
ruled he'd start taking evidence next Monday.

Mr GURRY said he believes the court will deal with witnesses whose testimony is unlikely
to be affected by new material just delivered by the prosecution.

Its expected the hearing will then be adjourned until late January.

Before the court again today were 28-year-old ROBERT JOE WAGNER, 34-year-old JOHN JUSTIN
BUNTING, 42-year-old MARK RAY HAYDON, and 20-year-old JAMES SPYRIDON VLASSAKIS.

WAGNER, BUNTING and HAYDON have all been charged with 10 counts of murder in relation
to eight bodies found in barrels in a disused bank vault at Snowtown in South Australia.

They charges also relate to two bodies buried in the backyard of a house at suburban Salisbury.

VLASSAKIS has been charged with five counts of murder.





Defence counsel for the men had asked for the calling of witnesses to be delayed to
help them properly consider all the material and witness statements from the Crown.

AAP RTV tjd/hn/jx

KEYWORD: SNOWTOWN (ADELAIDE)

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