Interstate judge to hear Bravos trial by the end of the year

An interstate judge will almost certainly preside over the rape trial of former top cop Peter Bravos after two NT Supreme Court justices recused themselves from the case.

Former NT Police Assistant Commissioner Peter Bravos arrives at the Darwin Local Court ahead of his committal hearing in June last year. Picture: KERI MEGELUS

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AN INTERSTATE judge will almost certainly preside over the rape trial of former top cop Peter Bravos after two NT Supreme Court justices recused themselves from the case.

Justice Judith Kelly was due to hear the trial in April and ruled out recusing herself earlier this month, instead opting to start the search for an interstate judge “as a matter of convenience”.

On Thursday, Justice Kelly told lawyers for Bravos and the Director of Public Prosecutions in court she’d been informed an interstate judge would be available to travel to Darwin before the end of the year.

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The April trial date remains in place but that could change depending on availability.

Justice Kelly said in the unlikely event an interstate judge could not be procured by the end of the year the case could still be heard by herself or another NT judge who also hadn’t recused themself.

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Justices Jenny Blokland and Dean Mildren have already recused themselves due to a personal relationship with one of the witnesses but Justice Kelly ruled her infrequent professional dealings with the witness were not a sufficient basis for her recusal.

“I think it would be actually desirable for this case to be heard from a judge from outside the jurisdiction … as a matter of convenience as distinct from apprehended bias,” she said at the time.