Prosecution told to review witness list

Six weeks in Lloyd Rayney’s murder trial has been told the prosecution still has 160 witnesses left to call.

However, prosecutor John Agius said he had asked the defence to review that list and hoped it could be reduced, with some witnesses not required to come to court but their statements tendered instead.

The trial was initially set down for five months but when it started the prosecution said it hoped that would be closer to two months. It is now in its sixth week.

Told of how many witnesses were still to come Justice Brian Martin quipped today: “Is that supposed to make me feel better or depressed?”

The trial has been adjourned for this afternoon to give the prosecution and defence time to review the list of witnesses.

Timothy Pearson, the man who allegedly helped Mr Rayney tap his wife's phone, is slated to be called as the first witness when the trial resumes at 10am tomorrow morning.