Convicted paedophile Barry Watson commits suicide days before denies alleged victims their day in court

A former youth leader was due to front court this week, charged with indecently assaulting three nine-year-old boys in Park Orchards in the 1970s. But his suicide death means his case has been “permanently adjourned”.

Barry Watson was due to face Ringwood Magistrates’ Court for a three-day hearing this week.

A convicted paedophile who was due to face new allegations of historic child sex crimes committed suicide days before his scheduled three-day court appearance.

Park Orchards youth leader Barry Francis Watson was earlier this year charged with indecently assaulting three victims in the 1970s.

He was a youth leader for the Church of England Boys Society in Park Orchards during the 1960s and 1970s.

He was scheduled to appear in a three-day hearing at the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court this week, following appearances at a contest mention in March and a special mention last month.

The charges were laid after he served a four-year jail term handed down in December, 2013, following a conviction on different sex offences.

County Court Judge Rachelle Lewitan at the time sentenced Watson to four years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of two-and-a-half years.

The Manningham Leader reported in March that Watson, by then a free man, was due to face court again.

A three-day hearing was scheduled for this week, where the 78-year-old was due to face allegations of indecently assaulting one victim between February 1972 and February 1973; a second between May 1975 and May 1976; and a third between May 1976 and May 1977.

Officers from the Frankston and Box Hill sex offence squads were listed as informants.

He was expected to plead not guilty.

A court spokeswoman yesterday confirmed the matter had been permanently adjourned due to Watson’s death.

Leader understands Watson committed suicide on Thursday last week.

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Watson appeared in court for a contest mention in March where his lawyer opposed the release of charge sheets detailing the allegations against him.

Magistrate Nunzio La Rosa wasn’t swayed, allowing them to be released minus the names of Watson’s alleged victims.

“Justice should be seen to be open and to simply deny the public knowledge of the events that take place in this court is contrary to that,” he said.

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