Body modifier BSlice asks judge to stay his trial over police delays
A body modifier known as BSlice has asked a judge to stay his trial for manslaughter, saying a police prosecutor has not been briefed and it‘s putting him at an unfair disadvantage.
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Police have been given a week to get the case in order against a New South Wales body modifier accused of manslaughter, with a court hearing the trial may be stopped before it begins.
Brendan Russell, known in the obscure body modification world as B-Slice, allegedly installed a silicon snowflake beneath skin on the back of a woman’s hand on the Central Coast in 2017.
Police allege the woman returned to Russell’s body modification studio at Erina complaining of pain.
It will be alleged in court that Russell removed the implant, drained the wound, and inserted a new snowflake before sending her home.
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Police say the woman succumbed to a deadly septicaemia infection and was found dead by her young child in their home.
Russell’s lawyer, Michael Mantaj, told the Downing Centre District Court that police have not provided information requested by Russell’s legal team.
Further, he told the court, the police have yet to brief a crown prosecutor.
He told Judge Peter Zahra that meant his client was not sure of the particulars of the case against him and he was unable to properly prepare as a result.
“The effect of that is oppressive upon the accused and he is put in this position less than two months before the trial,” Mr Mantaj said.
He said Russell would have to spend a small fortune assembling expert evidence to rely on at trial and it could all be for nothing if a late-appointed prosecutor changes how they’ll run the case.
“Even if your honour found the trial may be fair, the process between now and trial is unfair,” he said.
Judge Zahra told police their Crown prosecutor needed to be briefed immediately so the matter could proceed and Russell could be given details of what will become the case against him.
“It’s in no one’s interest that this is stayed,” he said.
“An experienced Crown Prosecutor should be briefed immediately. (Manslaughter) is a complex area and the work needs to be done now.”
He warned police the District Court’s Chief Judge would be “quite concerned” a prosecutor is not yet ready.
The court gave the police until next Tuesday to get up to speed.
Earlier this year, in a separate trial, another body modifier, Howard Rollins, was cleared of assisting Russell in the removal of a woman’s labia in Newcastle.
Russell is accused of carrying out the procedure on the woman, a return client of his, in a way that left her disfigured.
Russell will fight the charges of female genital mutilation as well as charges of manslaughter and causing grievous bodily harm with consent.
Mr Rollins was not involved in the alleged snowflake manslaughter.