Police were ordered by the court to pay compensation of $8065 towards court costs for Mr Davis following an application by defence solicitor Andrew Rolfe.
THE case against Orange man Michael Lee Davis who police claim deliberately set fire to his car to claim insurance money won’t go ahead after the prosecution withdrew charges in Orange Local Court.
Police were ordered by the court to pay compensation of $8065 towards court costs for Mr Davis following an application by defence solicitor Andrew Rolfe.
The figure comes on top of a previous court ruling in October last year where Mr Rolfe asked for compensation in the amount of $3560 for his client’s costs caused by delays in the case.
During the recent hearing, Mr Rolfe told the court the defence objected to the format of some of the evidence intending to be put to the court as part of the prosecution case.
After considering Mr Rolfe’s objection to the evidence, Magistrate Bruce Williams made a ruling the evidence wasn’t admissible.
The prosecution then asked for a short adjournment to amend the presentation of the evidence.
However. Mr Williams refused the request.
Following the luncheon adjournment the prosecution informed the magistrate the charge would be withdrawn.
The case against Mr Davis has been long and protracted coming before the courts six times since March 2012.
In October last year when the case came before relieving Magistrate Michael Allen he said it needed to be listed as a priority to avoid further delays and set down the March 2013 date for a hearing.
Mr Davis had been charged by Orange police last year after they claimed he deliberately set fire to his vehicle after reporting it stolen in December 2011 to gain financial advantage through his insurer.
