Samuel Blanch: Former Townsville Grammar teacher on child abuse material charges has case delayed in court

The case of a Townsville teacher accused of child exploitation material charges has hit an unexpected hurdle. Find out why.

SAMUEL BLANCH

The case of a Townsville music teacher at a prestigious school who was charged with child abuse offences will not proceed in the court until April after a procedural error by prosecutors.

Samuel John Blanch, 56, was charged in July of last year with two counts each of making and distributing child exploitation material.

Blanch was represented in court by solicitor Tracy Brown of Resolute Legal, but did not appear himself.

Queensland Police Service prosecutor Lisa Plessius said a partial brief of evidence requested by the defence had not been tasked mistakenly.

“Your honour, it appears that it was not tasked, it was in fact tasked yesterday, which was when the error was realised,” Ms Plessius said.

“The full brief was tasked, however on December 1, we received a request for a partial brief. It was that brief that was never tasked.”

Samuel Blanch did not appear in court.

Ms Plessius said the full brief was expected to arrive at her office by March 14.

Ms Brown said she ‘may as well’ just wait for the full brief.

Magistrate Richard Lehmann set the matter down to be heard next on April 4.

Blanch, who at the time of his alleged offending was employed by Townsville Grammar School as their director of music, was arrested on June 7. He is no longer a teacher there.

It is alleged by police that in December of 2020 Blanch produced and distributed ‘fantasy-based’ audio recordings of child exploitation material.

It is understood the alleged offending did not involve any individuals at Townsville Grammar School, nor did involve the school itself.

Originally published as Samuel Blanch: Former Townsville Grammar teacher on child abuse material charges has case delayed in court