THE co-accused of an inmate that died in custody in Tamworth will stand trial later this month, after the district court was formally notified of the man’s death.
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He was due to stand trial in Tamworth District Court on October 23 on robbery-related charges, but his barrister told the court on Wednesday he was waiting for a formal notification on the charges.
“I'm waiting for a formal indication from the Crown that there will be no further proceedings,” he told the court.
“It’s inevitable that will be the case,” Judge Jeffery McLennan replied.
DPP solicitor Donna Harris said a Crown prosecutor needed to sign off on it, but Chatfield’s co-accused, Aaron Leigh Collins will still stand trial.
Collins and Chatfield were accused of robbing and stabbing a 46-year-old father, and attacking his 26-year-old son, during an incident in Petra Ave, Tamworth on July 21, 2015.
Chatfield was rushed from the Tamworth Correctional Centre on September 20 to the emergency department.
His death is not being treated as suspicious but the coroner will rule on the cause.
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
