A man who abducted and raped a woman in 2015 has yet to be sentenced.
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Heath Lance Chatters, of Burnie, previously pleaded guilty to one count of rape, one count of armed robbery and two counts of assault after he kidnapped a woman at knifepoint and took her to a caravan park.
Dragging her into a cabin by her hair, Chatters raped her, threatening to shoot her parents if she didn’t do what he asked.
He was due to be sentenced by Justice Michael Brett on Tuesday, but the Supreme Court heard Chatters’ lawyer, Greg Richardson, was withdrawing from the case.
Now representing himself, Chatters raised a number of matters with Justice Brett including a psychiatric report, which the court heard described him as suffering antisocial personality disorder.
Crown prosecutor Madeleine Wilson said Chatters arguments had “taken her by surprise” and said he “could have raised it in the past”.
If you feel you have suffered a miscarriage of justice … you’ll be entitled to lodge an appeal like anybody else.
- Justice Michael Brett
She described the matters as “very serious offending” and pushed for Chatters to be sentenced on Tuesday.
But Justice Brett said he would give Chatters time to read through documents relevant to the case, including the mental health report, and “identify any matters in dispute”.
“You are also entitled to make plea mitigation,” Justice Brett said.
“I’ll give you the opportunity to do that.”
He made it clear to Chatters he would not be “reopening the case”.
“If you feel you have suffered a miscarriage of justice … you’ll be entitled to lodge an appeal like anybody else,” Justice Brett said.
In August, Justice Brett dismissed an application by Chatters to reverse his guilty pleas. It was the second time Chatters attempted to change his plea, with acting Justice David Porter refusing an application earlier in the year.
The matter was adjourned until Thursday at 4pm.
“That gives you 48 hours,” Justice Brett told Chatters.
Chatters was remanded in custody.