Paul Holland unable to appear in court over alleged property damage due to faulty AVL link

The defence lawyer representing a Covid-sceptic who allegedly trashed Michael Gunner’s Parap offices has voiced his frustration with technical issues affecting Darwin Local Court cases.

THE defence lawyer representing a Covid-sceptic who allegedly trashed Michael Gunner’s Parap offices has vented his frustration with another technical malfunction at Darwin Local Court.

Paul Anthony Holland, 47, was unable to appear on Friday over his alleged offending in the early hours of Tuesday morning, August 2, due to issues with the court’s audio visual link (AVL) connection.

Red police tape had been strung up around the Parap Shopping Village office earlier this week, with glass left shattered on the carpet, books thrown around and bricks scattered near the entryway.

On Friday, Holland’s solicitor John Lawrence said it was “highly unsatisfactory” his client was unable to appear after the matter was adjourned from earlier in the week.

“This failure of the AVL has happened before, I’ve seen it myself on several occasions,” Mr Lawrence said.

A 47-year-old man has been arrested after former Chief Minister Michael Gunner's Parap office was vandalised on August 2. Picture: Camden Smith.

“My advice would be to not go the AVL if this is what’s going to happen.

“It probably means I won’t have a client to see what’s going to happen (today).

“It’s highly unsatisfactory.”

He said his client needed to be brought into the court physically to avoid technical glitches.

However, the court also heard Holland had refused to be tested for Covid and was presumed to have the virus.

“That’s a procedure I have no complaints about,” Mr Lawrence said.

Holland, who is charged with being armed with an offensive weapon, damage to property and unlawful entry, will next appear on August 9 for a bail application.

Originally published as Paul Holland unable to appear in court over alleged property damage due to faulty AVL link