News Service from House Harris

NSW: Man accused over father's death wants charge dropped: court

SYDNEY, Jan 22 AAP - A Sydney man accused of the manslaughter of his father, who was initially thought to have been killed in a ride-on lawnmower explosion, will seek to have the charge against him dropped.

Lionel Barry Lowe, a noted industrial agricultural scientist, received fatal chest and stomach injuries in the blast, which occurred while he was cutting grass on his property at Dural, in Sydney's north-west, on May 19, 2008.

Police initially thought the man's mower blew up, but later said the vehicle was not the source of the blast.

The 67-year-old's son Jonathan Burton Lowe, 23, also from Dural, has been charged with manslaughter.

He also faces one count of grievous bodily harm by maliciously detonating the explosive triacetone triperoxide (TATP) and three counts of making, possessing or supplying explosives including a centrifuge tube, copper tube and propane torch bottle all containing TATP.

He is also facing two drug-related charges after police allegedly seized a quantity of the drug ice from his home, and one count of possessing suspected stolen goods, including five gold rings, a $200 Australian gold coin and a gold Regal brand lighter.

In Sydney's Central Local Court on Thursday, Lowe's lawyer Rod Van Houten said his client was ready to be sentenced on the drug matters, but the stolen goods charge may be withdrawn.

Outside court, Mr Van Houten said he was also seeking to have the manslaughter charge dropped.

"The manslaughter charge, we're making some representations to the police to withdraw that as well," he told AAP.

Magistrate Allan Moore adjourned the matter to March 5 in the same court.