Meagher murder suspect faces three charges of raping her
Adrian Ernest Bayley, 41, has lost a bid to delay next weekâs committal hearing over the rape and murder of the 29-year-old as she walked home from a Melbourne bar in September.
His lawyer, Helen Spowart, said prosecutors had served Bayley with two additional charges of rape against Ms Meagher at a court hearing in January.
The defence needed more time to gather independent reports on DNA and textile evidence relevant to the charges, Ms Spowart told the Melbourne Magistrates Court.
She asked that next weekâs hearing be adjourned for four weeks because the independent experts were extremely busy and unable to compile their reports and provide instructions to the defence in time.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Felicity Broughton refused the application.
âWeâre all very busy,â said Ms Broughton.
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âI donât think thereâs anyone in this room who isnât a very busy person.
âIâm satisfied that there is sufficient time for those inquiries to be made.â
Ms Spowart said analyses by police scientists of DNA and clothing, including damage to clothing, were relevant to the charges and Mr Bayleyâs independent experts needed to conduct their own examination of the materials and the notes of the police scientists.
Chief state prosecutor Gavin Silbert SC said he âvery vigorouslyâ opposed the adjournment.
He said materials being sought by the defence could be made available on Tuesday.
Ms Meagherâs husband, Tom, sat in the courtroom to hear the proceedings.
Mr Bayley has a filing hearing listed for the same court on Friday after being separately charged with rape and false imprisonment over two sexual assaults in the St Kilda area in April and July last year.
He appeared in court last month after being charged with seven new offences, including three counts of rape
