Graham Potter granted access to taxpayer funded legal team

Ex-fugitive Graham Potter has faced court for the first time since his dramatic arrest and has been granted a taxpayer-funded legal team.

Ex-fugitive Graham Potter has secured a taxpayer funded legal team as he fronts court for the first time since his sensational arrest after 12 years on the run.

Sporting a grey beard and ponytail, Potter appeared via video link from prison on Wednesday, charged with a litany of offences including conspiracy to murder, drug trafficking and failing to answer bail.

During the brief administrative hearing, the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard Potter had recently been approved for Victorian Legal Aid to fund his defence team.

Lawyer Veronika Drago, for Potter, said their legal team now needed extra time to get themselves abreast of the complex case.

Graham Potter had been on the run from police for 12 years before he was caught.

The 64-year-old was Australia’s most wanted man for more than a decade before he was found hiding in a dilapidated shed in Far North Queensland and taken in custody in February.

Potter had disappeared from Victoria in 2010 after he was charged over an underworld murder plot and high-level drug trafficking connected to the 2007-08 mafia-led “Tomato Tins’’ gang.

While on bail for the conspiracy and drug charges, Potter allegedly skipped town and used aliases and disguises to evade capture for 12 years.

Ms Drago requested an eight week adjournment of the matter which was granted.

Potter was Australia’s most wanted man for more than a decade. Picture: Ian Currie

Magistrate Guillaume Bailin said it was an “entirely appropriate” request and if he did not give Potter’s legal team the additional time to study the brief of evidence, it may prove prejudicial to Potter.

It marks the third adjournment granted in the matter since his arrival in Victoria via extradition in late February.

“This is not a criticism that falls on counsel for Mr Potter,” Mr Bailin said.

“The system needs to move to properly ensure he has the appropriate representation,” he said.

Commonwealth prosecutor Patrick Darby did not oppose the adjournment request, but stated the CDPP were “eager to progress the matter on the next occasion”.

The matter will return to court for a further committal mention on November 7.

Originally published as Graham Potter granted access to taxpayer funded legal team