Former child's entertainer Ric Marshall facing child sex trial

BEDRIDDEN former children's entertainer Ric Marshall will stand trial for sex crimes in the absence of a jury - if it goes ahead, a court has heard.

FORMER children's entertainer Ric Marshall will stand trial for sex crimes in the absence of a jury - if it goes ahead, a court has heard.

Marshall, 83, is due to stand trial in the District Court this month.

He has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of buggery, two counts of indecent assault, one count of rape and one count of unlawful sexual intercourse.

Prosecutors have alleged Marshall - who hosted a children's TV show in the 1970s - committed the offences against four boys between November 1971 and December 1976.

Marshall, who is bedridden and suffers from muscle wastage, heart problems and Parkinson's disease, is currently living under home detention conditions.

In 2006, he was ruled mentally unfit to answer charges he had sexually abused a boy at Malvern between September 1973 and December 1974.

The District Court placed Marshall on a six and a half year mental health licence.

Today Greg Mead, for Marshall, told the District Court his client would elect for his trial to be heard by judge alone, in the absence of a jury.

However, Mr Mead said he would first ask the court to order the trial be stayed indefinitely.

That application will be heard next week.

Marshall did not attend court.