A lockdown at Risdon Prison on Friday afternoon delayed the sentencing of a man who has pleaded guilty to a brutal stabbing at Juice Bar Fifty Five in September last year.
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Michael John Cowie, 38, previously pleaded guilty to a count of aggravated robbery of a 19-year-old woman who was working alone on a Sunday afternoon.
Mr Cowie's matter was mentioned early on Friday and delayed for sentencing until 2.15pm.
READ MORE: South of Tasmania in snap lockdown from 6pm
The complainant and her family were in attendance at the Supreme Court in Launceston when a Risdon Prison officer told court officials that because of a lockdown Mr Cowie would not appear.
Justice Robert Pearce said he could not sentence Cowie in his absence.
He said it was in everyone's interest to have the matter dealt with and set a new date of October 18 at 4.15pm.
Crown prosecutor John Ransom did not pursue an application that Cowie be declared a dangerous criminal, which could have had him detained indefinitely, after receipt of a psychiatric report.
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Nick Clark
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
