Prosecutors withdraw two of four rape charges ahead of former top cop Peter Bravos’ trial

Former NT Police assistant commissioner Peter Bravos will now face trial on two counts of rape relating to a single alleged victim.

Peter Bravos resigned from his position as assistant commissioner in July and remains on bail.

PROSECUTORS have withdrawn two of the four rape charges levelled at former top cop Peter Bravos, leaving him to face trial on the two remaining counts involving a single alleged victim.

Bravos was committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court in June to face allegations the 53-year-old sexually assaulted two women dating back to 2004 and 2006.

But during a pre-trial hearing in the Supreme Court this week, Crown prosecutor Nick Papas QC told Justice Dean Mildren the Director of Public Prosecutions had elected not to proceed with two of the charges.

“Pursuant to the provisions of the Criminal Code, particularly section 302, I have a written document, your honour, whereby I announce the colloquial Latin phrase nolle prosequi with respect to existing charges three and four,” he said.

“The document’s in writing and signed by the Crown law officer, the director and I seek leave to hand that to the court.”

Mr Papas filed a fresh indictment relating to two charges alleging the rape of a single victim.

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It comes after defence barrister John Lawrence SC told the court he would be asking the current trial judge to recuse themself from presiding over the case due to a personal relationship with one of the witnesses.

The trial is due to begin on April 21 but is now expected to run for less than the full four weeks originally allocated.

The assigned trial judge will rule on Mr Lawrence’s application at a later date.