Nick Stevens’ perjury case collapses

A PERJURY case against former AFL player Nick Stevens has fallen apart, but not before humiliating details about the ex-athlete emerged. Now police will have to pick up his legal bill.

Nick Stevens entering the Melbourne Magistrates Court this week. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross

THE perjury case against former AFL star Nick Stevens has collapsed because of a humiliating blunder by the Office of Public Prosecution.

Victoria’s chief prosecuting agency laid a deficient perjury charge which a magistrate today said did not comply with the law, a costly mistake which means police will have to pick up Stevens’ legal bill.

The perjury charge did not state that Stevens’ conduct was “wilful and corrupt” — elements of the charge — which Magistrate Ross Maxted said was required by law and left the former Carlton and Port Adelaide star at a significant legal disadvantage.

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“The charge is in error, in my view. It should say “acted wilfully and corruptly,” Mr Maxted said.

“Because the charge is not properly drafted … this charge is defective and the charge will be marked dismissed.”

Stevens sighed with relief after he heard the charge was dismissed following a lengthy day of complex legal argument.

Nick Stevens during his Carlton playing days.

Stevens declined to comment, although those close to him believe the perjury charge was always unfair.

Police charged Stevens with perjury, alleging he lied about knowing bikini model Samantha Nash when he gave evidence while he was prosecuted for assaulting his former partner Laima McKenna.

The case collapsed but not before humiliating details emerged, including that Stevens allegedly sent Ms Nash a lewd video of him performing a sex act over a picture of her in a bikini

Ms Nash earlier told the court she met Stevens once at a football function about six years ago.

Ms Nash said she only learned Stevens identity after the pair began texting each other.

Magistrate Ross Maxted declined to release the text messages, noting many were of a “sexual nature”.

“(Their release) would be nothing other than salacious,” Mr Maxted said.

Detective Aaron Roche said there were 600 text messages between Stevens and Ms Nash and included graphic material.

A spokesman from the Office of Public Prosecutions Victoria said they did not wish to comment.