By BRIDGET CARTER
A large trial starting next month has been shifted from the new $23 million Manukau District Court because it is too small.
Department for Courts regional manager Rob Handyside said the "Operation Bird" trial, due to start on June 15, had been transferred to a courtroom at the High Court in Auckland.
He said the trial involved nine defendants and over 200 charges for alleged crimes including burglary, conspiracy and car conversion.
It included at least 800 witnesses and more than 100 exhibits.
"The sheer numbers means trying to hold the trial at Manukau would place an unreasonable burden on everyone involved, and on other court users," said Mr Handyside
But a lawyer in the upcoming case, Lorraine Smith, said the shifting of the first major trial to be held at the court since it opened in October showed the facility was not big enough.
"There are going to be other big trials."
She said the jury would need to be taken each day to the High Court and the trial would last longer.
The Manukau District Court needed a sliding door so the court room could be expanded, she said.
Last year, Department for Courts spokesman Barry Ebert described the new court as having "modern, spacious and comfortable court facilities for the local community."
But lawyers working at the court said they were unhappy with its small jury rooms, poor acoustics and lack of parking.
A new $18 million court at Albany, which was due to open in August, has also faced criticism. Lawyers said it would not be adequate because it did not have jury facilities.
The president of the Auckland District Law Society, Chris Darlow, said the society was consulted about the design of the Manukau court and the need to shift a trial because of limited space was rare.
There was no sense in expanding district court facilities for "the odd trial," he said.
"It would make more sense to use another facility in the region."
He said there were some teething problems at the Manukau court, but that was to be expected.
Court too small for trial
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