The Wollongong man accused of murdering Wagga teenager James Cleghorn will be arraigned in the Supreme Court next month after waiving his right to a committal hearing in the Local Court.
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Bryce Cliff made a rare appearance in Wagga Local Court via videolink with a prison when his case was mentioned on Wednesday by solicitor John Weir acting as an agent for a Sydney legal firm.
Clean shaven and with cropped hair, Cliff was largely silent throughout the court proceedings, only saying yes when asked to confirm his identity.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen Mr Cliff, it might be confirmed that is him on the screen,” Mr Weir had asked.
Cliff, who will turn 30 years old on May 11, is alleged to have stabbed 16-year-old James Cleghorn to death in the teenager’s Kooringal home on the evening of June 7 last year.
James was a popular Kooringal High School student whose shock death stunned the city and plummeted residents into mourning.
Cliff has been in custody since his arrest just hours after the alleged slaying.
Director of Public Prosecutions solicitor Rennae Gee on Wednesday tendered to magistrate Michael Crompton a bundle of documents, including the brief of evidence against Cliff and a signed committal waiver.
Ms Gee asked for Cliff to be arraigned on June 2 – which will be five days short of the first anniversary of James’ violent death.
Cliff, a Wollongong man, will be brought to the court in person for the arraignment.
Cliff is expected to enter pleas in the Supreme Court to two charges: murder and aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence (larceny).
The second charge alleges that after leaving James’ home, Cliff broke into another Kooringal house and used “corporal violence” against a woman while in the process of stealing keys to a Toyota Camry.
Two other alleged related offences: taking and driving the Camry without the consent of the owner and using an offensive weapon to commit a serious indictable offence (assault occasioning actual bodily harm) will also be finalised in the Supreme Court.
A further two charges: driving while disqualified and driving while his visiting driving privileges were withdrawn will stay in the Local Court.
Those charges were adjourned to June 7 for Cliff to enter pleas.
It is not known when those matters will be finalised.
