THE deadline for submissions to the committal hearing into a case involving Warrnambool City councillor Jennifer Lowe has been pushed back until after local government elections.
In an administrative hearing yesterday, magistrate Ann McGarvie decided that defence submissions had to be lodged with Warrnambool Magistrates Court by November 11, with prosecution submissions two weeks later.
There will then be another administrative hearing before Ms McGarvie on December 4 at 9.30am with a video link possibly involving Geelong, Melbourne and Warrnambool magistrates courts.
Mrs Lowe, 37, was charged in July last year with theft-related offences alleged to have occurred while Mrs Lowe was the finance officer with Warrnambool’s Worn Gundidj Aboriginal Co-operative.
In July, Ms McGarvie invited defence counsel Damian Sheales and prosecutor Daniel Porceddu to make written submissions which she is expected to consider before setting a date to hand down her decisions.
Warrnambool solicitor Tony Robinson, for Mrs Lowe, yesterday appeared in the Warrnambool court video linked to Ms McGarvie and Mr Porceddu and explained that Mr Sheales needed more time to prepare his submissions.
