A senior Adelaide lawyer has apologised to South Australia's Supreme Court for bringing a "wrecking ball" to the trial of four men accused of murder, after abandoning his client over a conflict of interest.
Thomas Nicholls, 31, Thomas Pinnington, 25, Jeremy Sandell, also 25, and Kain Mazomenos, 26, are accused of murdering 24-year-old Victor Codea at Adelaide High School in August 2020.
All four men have pleaded not guilty to murder, but Sandell has admitted to manslaughter.
The prosecution alleges Mr Codea was bashed to death over a barrage of "bad reviews" he posted targeting drug dealer Sandell on the social media platform Discord.
Gilbert Aitkin, for Mr Nicholls, today told Justice Adam Kimber that his entire team needed to be excused from continuing the trial as they had become aware of a conflict late last night.
He said once he discovered the conflict, he spoke to "two separate silks" about whether he could continue to act for Mr Nicholls, but "they confirmed my feelings".
"I apologise for being the wrecking ball – it was never my intention, but it's not something that can be resolved," he said.
The court heard a fresh legal team would need to get across the brief of evidence, which was "not small".
Trial could be salvaged
The trial has been running for six days and there are two days left of prosecution evidence.
Grant Algie KC, for Mr Pinnington, said the remaining prosecution witnesses were not "controversial" and asked whether new counsel could be obtained "at short notice".
"It may not be the occasion for the wrecking ball approach just yet – we may be able to salvage it," he said.
The case was adjourned until Wednesday so Mr Nicholls could apply for a new lawyer at the Legal Services Commission.
Justice Kimber told Mr Nicholls to "cooperate" with the commission if they reached out to him over the next few days.
