The coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak major disruptions on all walks of Ballarat life, including the criminal justice system, with delays being caused to some of its most anticipated cases.
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The County Court has postponed all jury cases for at least six months and the Magistrates' Court is adjourning the majority of its cases to June 15.
Although the Ballarat Magistrates' Court is attempting to progress cases, the latest to be hit by delays is the Creswick Farmers Arms Hotel manslaughter case.
Shane Andrew Lucas, charged over the manslaughter death, faced the court by video link on Thursday for his second committal mention.
Lucas' solicitors have been unable to take his instructions from prison due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the case was adjourned for almost two months.
Crown prosecutor Fraser Cameron said Lucas' solicitors, who did not attend court, requested to adjourn the case so they could view material and then speak with Lucas, which had been difficult.
"Due to COVID-19 they have had trouble getting instructions from Mr Lucas, which is no fault of his," Mr Cameron said.
He said the request was to adjourn the matter for four weeks, but when magistrate Ron Saines asked Lucas if he thought he needed more time, he replied "yes".
Creswick man David Blake died outside the Farmers Arms Hotel after an alleged altercation just before 2am on November 24. Lucas, 41, also of Creswick, was remanded in custody until May 28.
In Lucas' previous court appearance on March 5, a post-mortem report and CCTV footage relating to the incident was expected to be available any day.
In a separate court case at the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday, a man's bail application was delayed because he had been red flagged for coronavirus.
The 27-year-old man, who The Courier has chosen not to name, was arrested on Monday and was going to apply for bail on Tuesday but he had flu-like symptoms and it was postponed to Thursday.
A Melbourne Assessment Prison custody officer told the court by video link on Thursday the man was in quarantine at MAP after he was transferred from a Ballarat isolation police cell.
"He has been red flagged this morning with flu-like symptoms," the officer said.
He said all new prisoners had to isolate for 14 days and could be moved to another prison within three to four days.
The officer said if the man's symptoms cleared up, it was possible he could apply for bail by video link. The bail application was adjourned to April 15.
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