A cadet involved in the ADFA Skype sex scandal may be allowed to return to study, another resigns from Air Force
ONE of the cadets charged in Defence Skype sex scandal may be cleared to return to his duties, after a magistrate changed his bail conditions.
ONE of the cadets charged in Defence Skype sex scandal may be cleared to return to his duties, after a magistrate changed his bail conditions.
Cadets Daniel McDonald and Dylan De Blaquiere faced the ACT Magistrates Court this morning in Canberra after being accused of secretly filming and broadcasting Mr McDonald having consensual sex with a female cadet using online broadcast service Skype in March.
They each face a charge of using a carriage service to cause offence, while Mr McDonald faces an additional charge of committing an act of indecency.
Lawyers for the pair told the court this morning they would be pleading not guilty to the charges.
Tony Burns said Mr McDonald's bail condition of staying 100m away from the female cadet was the basis for ADFA "taking him out of the college".
He said his client will be moved to the navy base, HMAS Harman, in Canberra and was being put on other duties.
The court heard Mr McDonald, 19, was innocent until proven guilty and he wanted to resume his studies.
Mr Burns applied for a change in the cadet's bail conditions, saying there was no evidence he had intimidated the female cadet.
Mr McDonald's supervisor, Flight Lieutenant Michael Bannerman, also testified to the court, saying the cadet was an intelligent young man and had controlled his anger and frustration over the allegations.
But Australian Federal Police Constable Leesa Alexander said the female cadet felt "sick to her stomach" when she thought about the alleged incident and vowed not to return to ADFA if Mr McDonald did.
Magistrate Lorraine Walker ruled Mr McDonalds bail conditions should be altered, saying he was not allowed to be within five metres of the female cadet, instead of 100m.
Mr Burns told reporters outside court his client would now apply to ADFA to have his removal from the college reviewed.
The court also heard Mr De Blaquiere had quit the Airforce prior to the alleged incident and was returning home to South Australia.
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