CONTROVERSIAL online blogger Nick Fletcher has claimed in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court he has self-referred a case against him to the High Court as the long-running trial recommenced yesterday.
Nicholas Francis Fletcher, 51, appeared unrepresented and immediately stated the publication complaints matter was now before the High Court and refused to participate in the trial any further.
“I have had to lodge with the High Court,” Fletcher said.
“I have been done over by a corrupt police force.”
Magistrate Ian White requested the defendant’s action number for the higher court matter and when nothing was provided, he indicated the trial would be resuming.
“I am getting on with the trial proper,” Magistrate White said.
Fletcher refused to participate in the course of the trial until Magistrate White addressed the “constitutional issues”.
Magistrate White made it clear to Fletcher he was not in charge of the trial after the defendant continuously talked over him during proceedings.
“You are under the mistaken impression you are running this trial, you are not, I am,” Magistrate White told the defendant.
Fletcher continued to indicate he would no longer participate in the trial, even suggesting he would attend a doctor to obtain a sick certificate for “stress” to be excused for the rest of the week.
Magistrate White called the witness, Caroline Gardner, to the stand and indicated to Fletcher the trial would be resuming regardless and would be ending this week.
With the witness at the stand, Fletcher continued to argue that Magistrate White should address the “constitutional issues”.
Magistrate White gave the defendant 40 seconds to ask a question of the witness or he would consider the cross-examination over.
Fletcher eventually began his cross-examination.
Later in proceedings, Fletcher once again claimed he would be going on stress leave and the hearing was a “nasty, cynical game”.
Magistrate White made it clear to the defendant the matter was not a game.
“You have called this a game for long enough, this is not a game, this is a trial,” Magistrate White said.
The trial continues.
