Jury trials set to return much sooner than initially expected, accused denied bail

A man accused of committing a violent home invasion in Lilydale has failed to use coronavirus as a reason to be released on bail, with a Supreme Court Justice revealing jury trials could return quicker than first thought.

Jury trials set to resume much earlier than first anticipated.

A man who allegedly posed as a policeman and beat two men with hammers has failed to use coronavirus delays as an excuse for bail as judges today revealed jury trials could resume within months.

Williams James Scriven, 41, is due to face trial in October over a brutal home invasion in Lilydale in 2016 during which he and a co-accused allegedly stormed a house demanding drugs.

One of the victims reported being knocked unconscious and waking to two men stabbing and bashing him in the head with “mash hammers”.

The men were so badly beaten police arriving at the scene initially believed they were dead, the Supreme Court heard today.

In arguing for his release on bail, Scriven – who maintains his innocence - said the suspension of jury trials in the Supreme and County Court due to COVID-19 would cause extensive delays to his case.

New jury trials were suspended indefinitely in March in the wake of the global pandemic.

But Justice Lex Lasry revealed the court was hopeful trials could resume sometime after the mid-year break in July - much earlier than previously anticipated.

The Herald Sun understands the courts are quietly confident trials will resume before the end of winter.

There were initial fears trials could be held off as late as 2021 with delays stretching up to three years in some cases.

In denying Scriven bail, Justice Lasry said the delay did not amount to exceptional circumstances as his trial date in October remained fixed in the calendar.

Earlier this morning, Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth also revealed a feasibility survey had been sent to practitioners about the resumption of trials.

A Supreme Court spokeswoman Sarah Dolan said the courts had been working together to see how they could safely resume trials.

“That planning includes making sure they can accommodate physical distancing requirements and have spaces in which jurors, in particular, feel safe and comfortable,”

“The courts will be consulting with the legal profession and others in relation to those arrangements and restarting in a measured way,” Ms Dolan said.

Scriven will remain behind bars charged with two counts of attempted murder, aggravated burglary and theft.

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