Suzi Milgate: Trial adjourned for forensic psychiatrist assessment

Suzi Milgate’s charge of assaulting former Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has been delayed a further three months, with the former real estate agent now on the hunt to seek out a forensic psychiatrist.

Suzi Milgate outside Darwin Local Court on November 8, 2024. Picture: Harry Brill.

Suzi Milgate’s charge of assaulting former Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has been delayed a further three months, with the former real estate agent now on the hunt to seek out a forensic psychiatrist after the case was adjourned.

On Friday, Ms Milgate appeared in the Darwin Local Court to continue her judge-only trial.

The session started with Judge Julie Franz clarifying a series of documents and emails that Ms Milgate had tendered to court following her last appearance on October 16.

The court heard one of the documents related to Ms Milgate requesting prosecutor Rhiannon McGlinn be recused.

Ms Milgate claimed the prosecutor had “lied” under oath when she called Ms Fyles a “vulnerable person”.

Ms Milgate also said the prosecutor “didn’t believe” the former real estate agent had post traumatic stress disorder, which she took issue with.

“But I do know that our office has internal conflict of interest policies. I have declared (I have) no conflict of interest in this matter – I did not even reside in the Territory when this offence (happened),” the prosecutor said.

Prosecutor Rhiannon McGlinn said there was no issue with her overseeing the case. Picture: Zizi Averill

“There is no power for the court to order the recusal, and to do so would interfere with the independence of the DPP.

Judge Franz said there was no issue with Ms McGlinn’s appointment.

Judge Franz moved on to the other documents tendered to her by Ms Milgate, which included the expert opinions of two separate medical professionals.

One of the professionals, a general practitioner, said Ms Milgate had “very poor” mental health and requested court proceedings be delayed so she could “recover” and “regain her ability” to mount a fair defence.

The other document, written by a clinical psychologist, found Ms Milgate to have “symptoms indicative of depression.”

Ms Milgate requested an adjournment be granted so that she could seek out a forensic psychiatrist.

With witnesses ready to give evidence, Ms McGlinn opposed the application.

“As noted on the last occasion, the matter is now over a year old.”

Suzi Milgate has successfully had her trial adjourned to February. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Judge Franz adjourned the matter, but urged Ms Milgate to seek legal advice before retaining a forensic psychiatrist’s report and before releasing the findings in court.

Ms Milgate said she had “no current income” and said such a report could cost up to $5000.

“So is the prosecution, or the government going to pay?,” she asked the court before being told she’d have to pay for her own report.