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A Canberra man accused of seriously injuring another man with a machete has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, forcing the ACT Supreme Court to abandon the planned attempted-murder trial.
A planned attempted-murder trial in Canberra has been abandoned after one of the accused pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, while proceedings against another accused person are expected to continue.
The case was being heard in the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court and involved an alleged machete attack at a home in Wanniassa, in Canberra's south, in September 2024. The accused, 32-year-old Zachery Norton, had originally faced a charge of attempted murder over the incident.
Norton was accused of seriously attacking another man during an altercation at the Wanniassa property. Prosecutors alleged that a machete was used during the incident, resulting in severe injuries to the victim, including three severed fingers as well as multiple deep cuts and fractures.
Norton was arrested in November 2024 and charged with attempted murder. Two other people were subsequently charged in connection with the case. Kayla Scott, 29, and Paul New, 36, had been accused of acting as accessories after the alleged attack.
A jury had already been selected for the case and the trial was due to begin this week. However, the proceedings changed at the last moment after prosecutors presented a new agreed statement of facts.
Norton ultimately pleaded guilty to a new and lesser charge of recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm. Because of the change in circumstances, the attempted-murder trial could no longer proceed in its planned form.
The ACT Supreme Court therefore dismissed the jury. Justice Jon White thanked the jurors for their time and acknowledged that the sudden change could leave them disappointed and confused after they had already been selected to hear the case.
The case involving Kayla Scott is continuing separately. Scott faces a new charge of assisting Norton to avoid apprehension and has pleaded not guilty to that charge. Her matter is expected to return to court for another trial, with dates likely to be determined later this year.
The third accused person, Paul New, will no longer face the accessory charge, as the prosecution dropped the case against him.
Norton remains in custody following his guilty plea. His lawyer, James Sabharwal, told the court that he intends to seek bail for his client before sentencing. The court has not yet set the final sentencing date.
The development means the original attempted-murder trial will not go ahead as planned. Instead, the court will now deal with Norton's guilty plea to the lesser offence and determine the appropriate sentence based on the circumstances of the attack and the agreed facts presented to the court.
The case has attracted attention because of the serious nature of the alleged injuries and the late change to the charges. The dismissal of the jury also means that jurors who had prepared to hear an attempted-murder case will no longer be required to consider the evidence.
CaseAccusedCourtNortonCharge
A planned attempted-murder trial in Canberra has been abandoned after one of the accused pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, while proceedings against another accused person are expected to continue.
The case was being heard in the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court and involved an alleged machete attack at a home in Wanniassa, in Canberra's south, in September 2024. The accused, 32-year-old Zachery Norton, had originally faced a charge of attempted murder over the incident.
Norton was accused of seriously attacking another man during an altercation at the Wanniassa property. Prosecutors alleged that a machete was used during the incident, resulting in severe injuries to the victim, including three severed fingers as well as multiple deep cuts and fractures.
Norton was arrested in November 2024 and charged with attempted murder. Two other people were subsequently charged in connection with the case. Kayla Scott, 29, and Paul New, 36, had been accused of acting as accessories after the alleged attack.
A jury had already been selected for the case and the trial was due to begin this week. However, the proceedings changed at the last moment after prosecutors presented a new agreed statement of facts.
Norton ultimately pleaded guilty to a new and lesser charge of recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm. Because of the change in circumstances, the attempted-murder trial could no longer proceed in its planned form.
The ACT Supreme Court therefore dismissed the jury. Justice Jon White thanked the jurors for their time and acknowledged that the sudden change could leave them disappointed and confused after they had already been selected to hear the case.
The case involving Kayla Scott is continuing separately. Scott faces a new charge of assisting Norton to avoid apprehension and has pleaded not guilty to that charge. Her matter is expected to return to court for another trial, with dates likely to be determined later this year.
The third accused person, Paul New, will no longer face the accessory charge, as the prosecution dropped the case against him.
Norton remains in custody following his guilty plea. His lawyer, James Sabharwal, told the court that he intends to seek bail for his client before sentencing. The court has not yet set the final sentencing date.
The development means the original attempted-murder trial will not go ahead as planned. Instead, the court will now deal with Norton's guilty plea to the lesser offence and determine the appropriate sentence based on the circumstances of the attack and the agreed facts presented to the court.
The case has attracted attention because of the serious nature of the alleged injuries and the late change to the charges. The dismissal of the jury also means that jurors who had prepared to hear an attempted-murder case will no longer be required to consider the evidence.
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