DETECTIVES have been waiting two months for medical reports on the injuries two boys suffered during an explosion in a backyard, a court has been told.
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Raymond Harland Hubbard sat silently in Tamworth Local Court on Wednesday morning where the DPP told Magistrate Roger Prowse they needed more time.
DPP solicitor Mark Ferguson said there was still two crucial pieces of evidence missing from the brief of evidence.
“Two expert statements from medical practitioners to detail evidence of the injuries … to support the allegation of grievous bodily harm,” he said.
“I understand they were requested on the 10th of January.”
Mr Prowse said the court had the power to issue subpoenas to “get the experts down here … and put them in the witness box” to detail the medical evidence.
The now 48-year-old is charged with three counts of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm.
Police allege Hubbard poured an accelerant on a fire at a birthday party in Little Barber St, Gunnedah, sparking an explosion on November 6, which burnt three teenagers.
The court heard two of the three alleged victims were airlifted to Royal North Hospital in Sydney for specialist treatment.
The expert statements still outstanding relate to the same pair.
Mr Ferguson said he was unable to tell if the medical reports were being prepared or if the alleged victims were still “not in a state to provide that information”.
Legal Aid solicitor Wendy McAuliffe said it was “beneficial” for her client to have the information before the case was committed for trial or sentence.
“In a matter that involves grievous bodily harm the medical information is extraordinarily important,” she said.
Mr Prowse granted the adjournment but warned the case would progress on the next occasion.
“You can be 100 per cent certain that on [that date] it'll be off to the other place … or hearing date for a contested committal [will be set],” he said.