Police criticised for delay in child chilli poisoning, assault case in Taree court

A Mid-North Coast police officer in charge of a child poisoning and assault case allegedly involving the use of chilli has been criticised for “unreasonable delays”. Here’s what we know.

The case has been adjourned to June 28.

The police officer in charge of a bizarre Mid-North Coast child poisoning and assault case, allegedly involving the use of chilli sauce, has been criticised for “unreasonable delays”.

A 34-year-old Taree man has been charged with three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one charge of administering poison with the intent to injure or cause distress.

The poison allegedly used was chilli sauce, according to court documents.

The offences are alleged to have occurred at Taree between 3pm on September 16 and 9am on September 19 last year.

The charges relate to the same alleged victim who the court heard was aged between six and seven.

The man, who cannot be named as it would identify the alleged child victim, is pleading not guilty to all charges.

The case was listed for hearing on Monday before Taree magistrate Allison Hawkins.

Taree Local Court

The court heard from the officer in charge of the case that there was now a co-accused in the matter – the mother of the alleged victim.

The officer told the court the mum made certain admissions and the assumption was she would be pleading guilty, avoiding the need for a hearing.

But Ms Hawkins told the court “pleas cannot always be anticipated”. She said the woman changed her plea to not guilty and the officer had not kept the court updated on the progress of the case.

“This is a debacle,” Ms Hawkins told the court.

She asked the police prosecutor: “What went wrong?”.

The prosecutor told the court the officer investigating “took a gamble that she (the mother) would plead guilty”.

In order to protect the child from having to repeatedly give evidence, Ms Hawkins adjourned the case to June 28 so the two cases could be dealt with at the same time.

Ms Hawkins told the court blame in relation to the “mismanagement of the matter” could be laid “entirely” on the officer in charge.

She told the court there had been “unreasonable delays” with the case and ordered NSW Police to pay legal costs of $962.50 to the accused man.

He attended court on Monday, ready to proceed with a hearing.

The man is on bail and must report to Taree Police Station three times a week.