Mullumbimby man charged with sexual assault of boys to have fitness raised in trial
Police will allege the man sexually and indecently assaulted two teenage boys who were in his care in the Mullumbimby area between 1980 and 1983.
Police & Courts
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A man accused of sexual and indecent assault of children in the Mullumbimby area in the 1980s will have his unfitness raised as he is committed for trial.
The 82-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested when he arrived at Sydney International Airport from the Philippines in October 2019.
He fronted Lismore Local Court on Wednesday, August 11 via video link.
Police will allege the man sexually and indecently assaulted two teenage boys who were in his care in the Mullumbimby area between 1980 and 1983.
It is alleged the man, who offered respite care outside of a boys’ home in the Lismore area, enticed two teen victims by engaging them in activities related to fixing and playing with CB radios and electronic gear.
Police had created part of Strike Force Kruseana, which spent six years investigating that allegations before the man was arrested.
On Wednesday, the man’s solicitor Rachael Thomas indicated the charges were ready to proceed to Lismore District Court trial but indicated questions of the man’s unfitness to be tried for the offences would be raised.
The man was previously assessed for dementia.
She said there were currently two justice health reports before the courts but that they were a bit “ambiguous”.
“The matter was adjourned for a case conference in an attempt to obtain instruction and that your honour, really went nowhere,” she said.
“The prosecutor agreed there is mild to moderate impairment.”
Ms Thomas said she was working on making a neuro-psychological report ready for the court.
Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions prosecutor Gabrielle Cornett indicated four charges were to be withdrawn before committal.
He still stands charged with 24 charges including 12 counts of indecent assault on a male, three counts of common assault, two counts of buggery, one count of attempted buggery, two counts of procuring indecent acts with a male, three counts of gross indecency by a male with a male under 18 years and one count of soliciting a male under 18 years to perform an act of gross indecency.
Given that, Magistrate Michael Dakin adjourned the matter for Lismore District Court arraignment on September 13.
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