The NSW man accused of murdering an alleged thief who broke into his Newcastle home will be represented by two of the nation’s top lawyers.
Winston Terracini SC and barrister Brian Murray took on the high-profile case on Monday and visited Benjamin Batterham, 33, at Cessnock Correctional Centre yesterday, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Batterham allegedly murdered Ricky Slater-Dickson after he found him in his Hamilton home in the early hours of March 26.
Slater-Dickson died in hospital the next day after his family chose to switch off his life support.
Batterham remains in custody after he initially declined to apply for bail. However, his new legal team will reportedly “expedite” an application to have him released.
Mr Terracini SC said Mr Batterham’s family were organising a surety.
The newspaper reports that the 33-year-old apprentice chef found Slater-Dickson in the hallway of his home then chased him outside where they fought.
Batterham is believed to have suffered a number of injuries in the fight before his friend, who was visiting from Queensland, helped him restrain Slater-Dickson until police arrived.
Batterham will reportedly argue that he acted in self-defence and was protecting his family and his property.
The case has sparked a heated debate about the lengths someone can go to to defend themselves and loved ones if they find an intruder in their home.
