MasterChef contestant Ben Ungermann to fight sexual assault claim
MasterChef contestant Ben Ungermann remains adamant he did not sexually assault a teenage girl while in Melbourne filming the popular cooking show, with his complainant set to give evidence at a contested hearing.
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MasterChef contestant Ben Ungermann remains adamant he did not sexually assault a teenage girl while in Melbourne filming the popular cooking show.
The Queensland-based chef was booted from the 2020 all-stars season after Victoria Police charged him with three counts of sexual assault in March.
His case returned to Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday for a brief administrative hearing to set down dates for a contested hearing.
“There’s no prospect of resolution as of today and I don’t see that position changing,” prosecutor Stephen Payne told the court.
The court heard four child witnesses — including the 16-year-old complainant — would give evidence at a seven-day hearing in May.
A magistrate, after hearing the evidence, will then determine if there is sufficient evidence to commit Mr Ungermann to stand trial.
Charge sheets allege Mr Ungermann, who was runner-up on season nine of MasterChef, intentionally sexually touched the teenage girl’s breast without consent in Docklands on February 23.
The 36-year-old was not required to attend the hearing.
He returned to his home in Ipswich where he runs a gelato parlour after he was dumped from the show in what was described on-air as for reasons of a “personal nature”.
Mr Ungermann has not spoken publicly about the allegations, but following being charged, he shared a tweet from his lawyer, Adam Houda.
“I act for Ben Ungermann,” Mr Houda said on Twitter. “Allegations against my client are vehemently denied and will be defended.”
Mr Houda later said: “My client is very distressed by the charges levelled against him. I am instructed that the allegations are a complete fabrication and are strenuously denied.”
Mr Ungermann remains on bail and will return to court on May 17.
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