Accused leaders of Blue Mountains child sex ring in “distress”
The lawyer for the accused ring leaders of the Blue Mountains child sex ring claims his clients are “in distress” over the silent treatment.
Penrith
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The lawyer for the family accused of running the Blue Mountains child sex ring claims his clients are “greatly affected” because they cannot communicate with each other.
Therese Ann Cook, 58, Paul Cook, 52, Yyani Cook-Williams, 30, and Clarissa Meredith, 23, and three juveniles have pleaded not guilty to more than 120 combined charges. It is alleged that between 2014 and 2016, the group carried out the kidnapping, assaulting and filming the sadistic rape of three innocent boys, including one victim who was just three years old.
It has been alleged Therese Cook, who is facing 43 charges of child rape and kidnapping, was the ringleader and incited her daughters Cook-Williams, a part-time burlesque performer, and Meredith to have sex with the young boys while her younger brother Paul filmed it.
At a brief mention held in Penrith Court today, an eight week adjournment was granted in order to negotiate the location of the trial. During the mention the lawyer for the group, Bryan Wrench, told the court that his clients are in distress over their bail conditions.
“The ongoing nature of the case is affecting my clients because while they are on bail they are not allowed to contact each other,” Mr Wrench said.
“They are family, mother and daughter and sister, so this is causing problems.”
The committal hearing is expected to take up to two weeks in order for all of the 29 hours of video evidence to be heard before the matter could proceed to trial.
The matter was adjourned for mention on November 1. It is expected that the date for a committal hearing may be set at this appearance, none of the accused are required to attend.