Lawyer for Guy Sebastian’s manager Titus Day hits out at court delays

A lawyer acting for celebrity manager Titus Day, who is accused of swindling over $1 million from client Guy Sebastian, has delivered scathing criticism of yet another court delay.

Titus Day’s lawyer has hit out at what he says are unacceptable legal delays as the celebrity agent prepares to fight allegations he swindled former client and pop star Guy Sebastian out of $1.15m.

Mr Day was expected to be arraigned and enter pleas when he appeared in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court on Friday.

But the 48-year-old’s case was instead hit with another adjournment.

The court has previously heard he is facing more than 60 charges related to the alleged embezzlement of royalty payments and performance fees which should have been paid to the Australian Idol winner.

Bondi-based Mr Day, who did not appear in person and watched proceedings via an audio-visual link, has denied the allegations since his arrest last year.

The court heard prosecutors are still waiting to speak to a witness in Canada who could influence changes to the indictment.

His lawyer Tom Jones opposed the proposed four-week adjournment, despite the matter having a trial date set for May next year.

Titus Day, with Guy Sebastian, before his arrest on embezzlement charges. Supplied

Mr Jones said that the matter had already been adjourned by the crown on two previous occasions and called for the charges to be finalised.

He also asked for his client to be awarded costs for his legal representation at the mention of the matter on Friday.

“Mr Day was arrested at his home five days short of 12 months ago yet he still does not know what charges from the crown he will meet at trial,” Mr Jones said.

He added: “There are a number of unsatisfactory aspects to the way the matter has been conducted by the police and the (Department of Public Prosecutions).

“I can take your honour through them now.”

Mr Day has pledged to fight charges he embezzled more than $1 million from Guy Sebastian. Picture: Toby Zerna

Judge Warwick Hunt said he was not going to entertain a hearing on costs considering he had a courtroom full of lawyers and defendants waiting to be heard, just hours after lockdown measures had been enforced by the state government.

He described it as a “public health issue”.

“I’m not going to do it, I’m just not going to do it,” Judge Hunt said.

He adjourned Mr Day’s matter to Monday for his costs application to be heard by another judge.