Richard Pistrin: Accused murderer’s case fast-tracked to Supreme Court

The case of a man charged with murder over a fatal stabbing at a venue in Geelong’s CBD is being fast-tracked to the Supreme Court, with his fitness for trial to be assessed.

Police outside the Sir Charles Hotham Hotel on February 19. Picture: Eddie Russell

The case of a man accused of murder in a CBD hotel is being fast-tracked to the Supreme Court, with his fitness for trial to be assessed.

Richard Pistrin, 34, fronted the Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday for a brief committal mention.

Mr Pistrin is charged with murdering a 67-year-old New Zealand national at the Sir Charles Hotham Hotel on February 19.

Police were called to the Brougham St venue after an altercation allegedly broke out between the two men, who had both been staying at the hotel, inside an upstairs room.

When officers arrived, the alleged victim was found with fatal stab wounds.

After allegedly fleeing the scene, Mr Pistrin was arrested on Elizabeth St a day later.

When the matter was called on Tuesday, Pistrin’s lawyer, Damian Russo, told the court he was seeking the matter be adjourned and it was being fast tracked to the Supreme Court, with the court registry having provided a prospective date.

Mr Russo said there were also a “couple of other side issues” and asked for some material, which had been provided to the court on Tuesday, to be released.

This material included Mr Pistrin’s Justice Health records, as well as notes from a pre-interview screening by the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine.

Mr Russo told the court Mr Pistrin had a fitness assessment scheduled for June 20, prior to the Supreme Court directions hearing.

Jill Goddard, for the Office of Public Prosecutions, also sought leave to inspect the health documents.

Mr Pistrin, who appeared at the hearing via videolink from custody and was dressed in prison greens and sporting close-cropped hair, did not enter a plea on Tuesday.

During the brief hearing, Mr Pistrin acted erratically, at points laughing, adjusting and moving his chair or getting up and walking around the room.

At one point he commented about his “attention span”, and said “I don’t care anymore, let me go” before his connection was muted.

Afterwards, he got up again and wandered around, staying for a time out of view of the camera.

After the prison link disconnected following its 15-minute allocation, Magistrate Franz Holzer declined to try and resume the link, commenting that Mr Pistrin “isn’t particularly well it seems”.

Mr Holzer said he trusted Mr Russo to take his client through the outcomes of the brief hearing.

Mr Pistrin will next face a directions hearing in the Supreme Court on June 27.

Originally published as Richard Pistrin: Accused murderer’s case fast-tracked to Supreme Court