Tech difficulties delay trial of navy officer Benjamin Seaman
Ongoing technical difficulties at the Defence Force Magistrates court in Canberra has forced the trial of a navy officer to move interstate.
Canberra Star
Don't miss out on the headlines from Canberra Star. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Technical difficulties have forced a Defence Force Magistrates Court trial of a navy officer facing indecency charges to be adjourned and moved interstate.
The trial of Chief Petty Officer Benjamin Seaman began on Monday at the Fyshwick based court, but the remainder of the trial will be heard next week at the Garden Island Defence Force Magistrates Court in Sydney.
During the first day of the trial, the complainant in the case, who alleges CPO Seaman picked her up and forcibly kissed her twice and later groped her in her own bed during a gathering, began to give her testimony.
However the complainant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was forced to stop and start her testimony because the videolink repeatedly cut out and lagged.
The complainant told the court she and her housemate had a party on the night of November 23, 2019.
She said CPO Seaman was invited to the party, but said she didn’t know him well.
She told the court while she was putting away dishes, CPO Seaman approached her from behind, picked her up, swung her and planted a kiss on her lips twice without consent.
She said she told him “no” and pushed him away twice.
Technical difficulties throughout her testimony on Monday forced Defence Force Magistrate Group Captain Scott Geeves to stand proceedings down.
Group Captain Geeves said he wanted to respect the wishes of the complainant who elected to give her evidence outside of the courtroom.
On Tuesday the trial was first adjourned to 11am and later adjourned to 1pm to allow for the technical difficulties to be resolved.
However the issues were unable to be resolved, and it was announced the matter would be adjourned and moved to Sydney.
Specific dates and times for the recommencement of the trial have not been set.
Clocked out of work and vanished: 17yo girl’s cold case haunts family
It has been 41 years to the day since 17-year-old Megan Mulquiney seemingly vanished into thin air – an unresolved case that continues to haunt her family, who are still searching for answers.
Read more
Canberra sale and auction results, week ending July 27
Belconnen proved to be a hot market last week with five properties selling for a total value of $2.5 million. See the latest auction and sales results.
Read more