William Tyrrell’s foster parents plead not guilty to allegations of assault against another child

Lawyers representing William Tyrrell’s foster parents have entered a not guilty plea to allegations of child assault against a different child.

William Tyrrell’s foster parents have pleaded not guilty to charges alleging they assaulted a child – not William – that was formerly in their care.

The plea was entered in Hornsby Local Court on Friday before Magistrate Robyn Denes by separate lawyers representing the pair.

Lawyers for both defendants, who can not be named for legal reasons, also sought a date to submit an application under the Mental Health Act.

Sharon Ramsden, who appeared for the woman, told the court they wold make an application under section 14 of the Act, which allows a person charged with a criminal offence who has a mental health or cognitive impairment to avoid a finding of guilt or criminal conviction.

Respective psychological reports would be presented in court on February 1, with a reply being scheduled for February 22.

The magistrate handed down a series of orders preventing details of the police case against the couple being made public.

“The orders are necessary to protect the safety of the applicants. I accept the evidence relied on by the applicants in relation to their fears. They appear to be reasonable given the context and the interest in the WT (William Tyrrell) matter,” Magistrate Denes told the court.

William Tyrrell’s foster parents pleaded not guilty to allegations of child assault against a different child. Picture: Supplied

In response to a lawyer representing media organisations, Magistrate Denes agreed the case was a matter of public interest, however said the context surrounding the case had to be considered.

She disagreed with a submission arguing there would be no risk placed on the defendants or child complainant if details of the allegations were published.

“Simply anonymising their names does not provide the protection intended by the orders made in the other jurisdictions, nor does it deal with the protections intended to the child by parliament.”

Magistrate Denes agreed concern held by the defendants was “reasonable” given the context and the broad public interest in the Tyrrell investigation.

Police search the home where William was last seen. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Peter Lorimer.

Suppression orders announced on Friday were necessary given the risk of inferences being made tying the foster parents’ assault allegations to the disappearance of William, Magistrate Denes said.

“The risk that (the defendants) are somehow connected to the disappearance of WT based on innuendo and misinformation is significant,” she said.

The foster mother and foster father each face one count of common assault, alleged to have occurred at a home on Sydney’s upper north shore this year.

The identities of the foster parents and the child could not be revealed for legal reasons.

The charges do not relate to William, who went missing aged three in September 2014 from a home at Kendall on the NSW mid-north coast.

Originally published as William Tyrrell’s foster parents plead not guilty to allegations of assault against another child