Judge asks Adelaide lawyer Adam Richards explanation after adjournment requested in drug trafficking case of Jaidan Khan Thorpe

A top defence lawyer has offered a judge a grovelling apology in court after the death of a doctor and “understaffing” led to the court’s time being “wasted”.

Sentencing for a man found in possession of thousands of dollars worth of drugs has been derailed after a doctor died – with a top defence lawyer offering a judge an apology in court.

Jaidan Khan Thorpe, 28, from Prospect, was due to appear in the District Court on Thursday in front of Judge Emily Telfer for sentencing submissions after being charged with three counts of drug trafficking and one count of possessing a controlled drug. He has pleaded guilty to all charges.

However, Adam Richards, for Thorpe, applied for a six-week adjournment after a report scheduled to be provided to the court was made unavailable following the death of the doctor responsible for writing it.

Jaidan Thorpe Picture: Facebook

Judge Telfer told Mr Richards he had been given ample opportunity to warn the court if he was going to be unable to make submissions – calling his last-minute application “unacceptable”.

“Can I ask you this Mr Richards? On the last occasion you were told to contact chambers if you were not going to be in a position to make submissions today to save my time preparing the matter (and) to save the court’s time putting a courtroom aside,” she said.

“Can you give me an explanation for why I’ve been inconvenienced, (the prosecution) has been inconvenienced and the very tightly held morning slots in this courtroom has been wasted?”

“The explanation, if Your Honour pleases, is that I’m snowed under,” Mr Richards said.

“We’re all busy Mr Richards. We’re all busy, and even busier when our time is wasted,” Judge Telfer replied.

Judge Emily Telfer. Picture: Michael Marschall

“I’m so sorry – I apologise,” Mr Richards said. “There’s no explanation – all I can do is offer an apology. I’m understaffed, I’ve got someone who’s gone away on leave and I’m struggling to keep up … that’s the reality of it.”

In November last year, Thorpe pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in a controlled drug after allegedly being caught with GHB and other drugs in Prospect in February, 2023.

His co-accused – and girlfriend – Shanice Maree Flanagan has denied any involvement in the alleged offending.

On Thursday, Mr Richards asked for Judge Telfer’s “forgiveness” and said he never wished to “disrespect” the court.

“If there’s any judge I’d less like to inconvenience … I can’t think of them,” he said.

“I just apologise – it was certainly … suboptimal is not the right word. “I’m so sorry.”

The matter was adjourned to December for submissions.

Originally published as Judge asks Adelaide lawyer Adam Richards explanation after adjournment requested in drug trafficking case of Jaidan Khan Thorpe