mmg.com.au

A man found guilty of an Echuca drive-by shooting is still a free man after his sentencing was yesterday deferred for a third time.

Kyle Verhey, 24, of Moama, was to be sentenced in Bendigo Magistrates’ Court for the drive-by shooting of Robert and Ada Cooper at a North St, Echuca, home on May 23.

Magistrate William Gibb found Mr Verhey guilty of reckless conduct endangering life, recklessly causing serious injury and recklessly causing injury on December 21.

However, he deferred sentencing to February 26 as he awaited medical reports.

He then adjourned sentencing on February 26 to yesterday, so that another matter involving Mr Verhey could be heard on the same day.

Yesterday the matter was adjourned to March 25, as Mr Verhey’s barrister Michael Pena-Rees was not available.

Mr Verhey’s solicitor instructing the barrister, Matt Mahady, told the court yesterday that Mr Pena-Rees was in court on another trial which started on Friday and was expected to run for about five weeks.

He said Mr Pena-Rees had been available for an initial sentencing date in February.

Mr Mahady said his client also raised concerns with him yesterday morning about the content of part of a psychiatrist and a psychologist’s report that Mr Gibb would use in sentencing.

‘‘He (Mr Verhey) said there were two admissions he never said to the psychologist or the psychiatrist,’’ Mr Mahady said.

He said he wanted to speak to the two experts who had compiled the reports to see the circumstances in which they wrote what they did.

Mr Gibb was sceptical of the challenge to the reports.

‘‘It’s a most remarkable coincidence that two experts, or two occasions, get it wrong,’’ Mr Gibb said.

The sentencing was adjourned to March 25 in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court, with the magistrate warning he wanted the case finalised soon.

‘‘The court is starting to become alarmed at the ongoing delay in this matter,’’ Mr Gibb said.

Given the unavailability of Mr Pena-Rees during this time, Mr Verhey is to have another barrister represent him on the day.