Foster mother of William Tyrrell charged again by police

The foster mother of William Tyrrell, who is being treated as a ‘person of interest’ in his disappearance, will face a fresh charge in a Sydney court today.

William Tyrrell.

The foster mother of William Tyrrell has had a fresh charge laid by NSW Police.

It comes as the little boy’s foster parents pleaded not guilty in December to assault charges laid in November last year.

Tyrrell’s foster mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will face a fresh charge of common assault at Hornsby Local Court today. Her lawyer Sharon Ramsden has told Hornsby Local Court today that her client would be pleading not guilty to the fresh charge.

In November it was reported Tyrrell’s foster mother and now-deceased foster grandmother were being treated as persons of interest in his disappearance.

They deny any wrongdoing and no charges have been laid in relation to his disappearance.

In December the couple’s legal representative said they would be considering an application to have their case dealt with under the Mental Health Act.

On Tuesday the father’s solicitor Lauren MacDougall told the court he was not intending to have his charge dealt with under the Mental Health Act, but would still be pleading not guilty.

Grave expert Tony Lowe at the search site for William Tyrrell’s remains in December. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Peter Lorimer.

The mother’s lawyer Sharon Ramsden said she would still attempt to be dealt with under the Mental Health Act, and that medical assessments had been carried out.

A successful application allows a person who is charged with a criminal or traffic offence and suffers from a mental health impairment or cognitive impairment to avoid a conviction or a finding of guilt.

In November an interim apprehended violence order was taken out on behalf of a person who cannot be identified for legal reasons, in relation to the charges.

At the end of last year police conducted a renewed the search for Tyrrell in three areas surrounding Kendall.

Police divers at William Tyrrell‘s late foster grandmother’s home in November last year. Picture: Liam Mendes / The Australian

It is understood police were searching for William’s remains in the belief he was placed in the bush rather than buried. Officers were reportedly told any potential remains of William would be in the dam or creek only if they had naturally moved from their original location over time.

Officers spent around a month searching bushland, dams as well as two water tanks at the house where William was last seen.

The foster mother will return to court on April 22 and the foster father will return to court on April 29.