Kenneth Wayne Dunn in historic child sexual abuse case at Taree court

The mother of an alleged victim of child sexual abuse has given evidence at a special hearing for the elderly man facing a string of charges dating back to the 90s, saying her daughter was not “strong enough” to speak in court at the time.

Taree courthouse

The mother of an alleged victim of child sexual abuse has given evidence at a special hearing for the elderly man facing a string of charges dating back to the 90s, saying her daughter was not “strong enough to enter a court and speak” at the time.

Kenneth Wayne Dunn has been charged with seven offences alleged to have occurred in a town in the Manning Valley region in the mid to late 90s while he was employed at a business owned by the girl’s parents.

Charges include one count each of having sexual intercourse with a person aged 10 years or over and less than 16, and aggravated indecent assault of a person aged 10 years or over and less than 16 (rubbing the child underneath her clothing).

The 75-year-old has also been charged with three counts of having (oral) sexual intercourse with a person aged between 10 and 11 and one count each of inciting a person under 16 to perform an act of indecency and committing an act of indecency.

He has not entered a plea in relation to the seven charges and a special hearing commenced before Judge Penelope Wass in Taree District Court on October 9.

Kenneth Wayne Dunn leaves Taree court.

In June Dunn was found unfit to stand trial.

Special hearings of this nature are held to ensure that a defendant is acquitted, unless it can be proved to the required criminal standard of proof that, on the limited evidence available, the defendant committed the offence charged or another offence available as an alternative.

The alleged victim’s mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, took the stand and told the court that her daughter “was very upset and just couldn’t verbalise” when she asked her about what was alleged to have occurred.

“I recall her being very scared about it and frightened and not wanting to talk about what (allegedly) happened to her,” she said.

“She wouldn’t answer questions when I asked.”

A police officer interviewed the girl at her school in 2002 and later told the mother the case would not proceed as “she didn’t feel (the girl) was strong enough to enter a court and speak”.

The alleged victim, now in her 30s, has come forward again and the case reopened with the current officer in charge also taking the stand at Taree last week.

The court heard the officer, who had first interviewed the girl in 2002, had since retired from the police force.

Judge Wass asked the officer in charge if she had interviewed the alleged victim’s siblings or father and when the officer said she hadn’t Ms Wass suggested this would be “critical” to the current investigation.

“It’s an avenue that could have been approached – yes,” the officer replied.

Dunn is currently on bail.

The special hearing was adjourned to December 2 in Sydney’s Downing Centre.

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Originally published as Kenneth Wayne Dunn in historic child sexual abuse case at Taree court