William Tyrrell foster parents to face three day hearing

Representatives for the foster parents of William Tyrell have faced court today as the next stage of their child assault and stalking charges is determined.

William Tyrrell.

The foster parents of William Tyrrell will face a three-day hearing next January to defend child assault and stalking charges.

Representatives for the foster parents, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared ­before Parramatta Local Court on Friday.

The foster mother faces two counts of stalking and intimidation and two counts of common assault against a child, who is not William.

The foster father faces one count of common assault and one count of stalking and intimidation against a child.

The couple entered not guilty pleas in November.

On Friday, the foster father’s representative, Lauren MacDougall, raised concerns the matters were “taking too long”.

The court was told an application to have the foster mother’s charges dealt with under mental health grounds will be heard on June 30.

If the foster mother’s application to have the charges dealt with under the Mental Health Act is unsuccessful she will join the foster father on January 16-18 for a hearing.

The man and woman have both been charged in separate proceedings with knowingly giving false or misleading evidence to the NSW Crime Commission. The foster mother’s first court appearance in relation to those charges will be on May 24.

At the end of last year, police conducted a new search for ­William in three areas surrounding Kendall on the NSW Mid-North coast.

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