Matthew John Hill: Alleged burglar before Lismore District Court will be tested for fitness

A Northern Rivers man charged over an alleged serious break and enter will claim he is not fit to stand trial, a court has heard.

Matthew John Hill fronted Lismore District Court on Monday, August 30 facing several alleged 2020 offences.

A Northern Rivers man, charged over an alleged serious break and enter, will claim he is not fit to stand trial as the case progresses.

Matthew John Hill fronted Lismore District Court on Monday, August 30 over several alleged 2020 offences.

He stands charged with aggravated break and enter, destroying and damaging property to a cost under $2000, and two counts of resisting an officer in the execution of duty.

Mr Hill was due to be arraigned on Monday but unspecified medical issues delayed the progression of the case.

The court heard his health had been previously raised in the local court and that a defence report had been served regarding his health issues.

That report was also expected to be made available to the Crown prosecution by the end of the week.

Given that, Judge Jeffrey McLennan adjourned the matter for six weeks for the report to be made available.

“If he is found to be unfit, and the consensus view is that he’s unlikely to be fit in the next 12 months, a special hearing can take place effectively immediately,” Judge McLennan said.

“I would think about the eventuality of that if need be.”

Mr Hill’s matter was adjourned until October 11 before Judge Warwick Hunt.

He will remain on bail until that date.