Man, 71, who was questioned over disappearance of Beaumont children faces unrelated child sex offences
A MAN questioned about the disappearance of the Beaumont children has attended the Adelaide Magistrates Court charged with unrelated sex offences, but failed to appear before a magistrate.
A MAN questioned to the disappearance of the Beaumont children has attended the Adelaide Magistrates Court charged with unrelated sex offences, but failed to appear before a magistrate.
The 71-year-old man, who has been charged with multiple sex offences dating back 50 years, was arrested last month after returning to South Australia from living overseas.
He sat outside the courtroom as his lawyer asked for an adjournment and next court date to be set administratively.
A police spokesman on Friday confirmed the man – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – had been questoned about the disappearance of Grant, Arnna and Jane Beaumont from Glenelg Beach in 1966 after his return to Adelaide.
“(The man) is known to police and was one of a number of people over the years detectives from the Major Crime Investigation Section wished to speak with as part of the investigation into the disappearance of the Beaumont children,” the spokesman said.
“Recently, detectives from Major Crime became aware that (the man) had returned to Australia.
“(He) was recently interviewed by detectives from Major Crime and like many other people whom police have spoken with over the years there is nothing to implicate him in the disappearance of the Beaumont children.”
The man had lived in South East Asia.
He was due to face court for the first time on Friday charged with multiple child sex offences and three counts of buggery which police allege occurred between January 1, 1965, and December 31, 1983, at Rapid Bay, Kangaroo Island and Glenelg.
When questioned outside court why his client had not appeared before the magistrate, lawyer Stephen Ey said “because the court hadn’t laid the charge and we were tied up”.
Police charged the man last month and he was bailed to appear today.
Mr Ey said his client had “nothing to say about anything”.
The man will next front court in October.
It is also understood the man will seek a variation to his bail to allow him to travel interstate.