Stephen, Richard Mateer: Twin brothers face court

Two brothers have been charged with alleged historical child sex offences after detectives came across information in an unrelated matter while re-examining the disappearance of Amanda Robinson.

Twin brothers have faced court over alleged historical child sex abuse following reignited investigations into the night Amanda Robinson went missing in 1979.

Stephen Mateer and his twin brother Richard Mateer, both 69, were arrested and charged after police conducted inquiries into a private fundraiser at the former Swansea Bowling Club in Lake Macquarie on the night Amanda Robinson went missing on April 20, 1979.

Strike Force Arapaima – which was established to re-examine the 1979 disappearances and suspected murders of Robyn Hickie and Amanda Robinson, as well as the 1994 kidnapping and suspected murder of Gordana Kotevski – uncovered information relating to the sexual abuse of two boys in the late 1980s and early 1990s by two men known to them.

There is no suggestion that the twins were involved in these suspected murders or kidnappings.

Amanda Robinson, 14, disappeared on April 20, 1979.

Robyn Hickie

Stephen Mateer is facing 41 historical charges including multiple counts of sexual intercourse with a child aged ten or over and under 16 years, indecent act with a person under 16 and inciting indecent acts on a person under 16.

The 69-year-old pensioner, who lives in an aged care facility, appeared at Bankstown Local Court from custody at Bankstown Police Station on Thursday after being arrested that morning.

The court heard police allege he committed the offences around 1990 and 1992.

The court heard he was convicted in relation to other matters of a similar nature after being charged in 2013 and received six years non-parole.

Mateer’s lawyer argued that since the early 1990s, when these offences are alleged to have occurred, he had not committed any other offences and had been a man of good character.

Generic image of NSW Policeman with handcuffs. Photo: Trevor Veale / The Coffs Coast Advocate

In opposing bail, the prosecution referred to the police fact sheet in the matter, which claimed “he has shown no remorse or understanding of the offences against children”.

The prosecutor claimed the alleged offending was “so abhorrent and significant” that the court would have “great concerns” about him being in the community.

She said the two complainants – who were between 12 and 14 years of age – had been able to recall alleged “significant details” after all this time.

But Magistrate Glenn Walsh refuted the prosecution case was strong as they had argued, instead calling it “reasonable” and raised some possible issues that could be aired at trial.

He suggested there might be issues around collusion in relation to the statements of the two complainants, meaning the statements could be argued to be contaminated, and referred to issues with the “accuracy, reliability and credibility” of each complainant.

Magistrate Walsh referred to the timing of the complainants’ statements, which were made in June and then July this year, at the same time Mateer was eligible for release on parole for other historical sexual matters, as well as the claim that they allegedly committed acts on each other at the exhortation of this applicant and his co-accused.

Bankstown Courthouse.

Magistrate Walsh said the fact sheet used the word “believed” a lot, which was not a state of certainty but one of conclusion-drawing based on circumstance.

He suggested he was not likely to be a risk to the community as the prosecution had claimed, as he had not committed an offence for almost 30 years.

He said he understood the community expectation was that those who committed such offences should receive condign punishment but said the man had not been convicted of the offences.

Magistrate Walsh granted Stephen Mateer bail, stating the bail conditions offered were appropriate to mitigate any risks.

Yet, the prosecution made an application to stay the proceedings, meaning his bail would be determined in the Supreme Court at a later date.

He will remain in custody until then.

His brother Richard Mateer was arrested about a week earlier on November 17 at a Seven Hills home and charged with seven counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual intercourse with child aged ten or over and under 16 years.

He was formally refused bail at Blacktown Local Court on November 17 and will appear at the same court on January 13.

Inquiries into the fundraiser function on April 20, 1979 are ongoing.