THE trial of a man accused of attempted murder – which was supposed to start this week – has been adjourned until late September in the wake of coronavirus.
David Rista, aged 24, of Rugby Road, Newport, has denied trying to kill Strugurel Lacatus in the city on Tuesday, October 8, 2019.
The Romanian national’s trial has now been adjourned until September 28 and the defendant was remanded in custody.
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Rista has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and has also denied causing the alleged victim grievous bodily harm with intent and causing him serious injury by dangerous driving.
Rista’s trial was adjourned after a hearing at Cardiff Crown Court.
Proceedings, apart from a small number continuing for bail applications, preliminary hearings and mentions to adjourn trials, have more or less ground to a halt in the higher court and magistrates’ courts are only dealing with urgent remand cases.
A network of around 150 "priority courts" will remain open during the Covid-19 pandemic for "essential face-to-face hearings", the Ministry of Justice said.
Some hearings are being conducted with lawyers staying away from court and making representations to a judge via telephone or Skype and with defendants who are in custody appearing via video link from prison.
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