Why Trevor Morris, 71, charged with accessing child abuse material, could ‘avoid’ a trial

A man charged with accessing – and possessing – child abuse material in Alice Springs could be spared a trial. Find out why.

Trevor John Morris, 71, leaves the Alice Springs Local Court in October 2024. Mr Morris has been committed to the Alice Springs Supreme Court in 2025 on child abuse charges and is yet to enter a plea. Picture: Gera Kazakov

A man accused of possessing child abuse material in Alice Springs could be spared a trial, a court has heard, if a proposition by his lawyer is taken up.

Defence lawyer Simon Lapinski, representing 71-year-old Trevor John Morris, told the Alice Springs Supreme Court he had made further submissions to the Commonwealth DPP “in the hope that we can avoid this matter proceeding to trial”.

Mr Morris, arrested in June last year, has been charged with three counts of accessing child abuse material and two counts of possessing child abuse material.

He is also facing a further count of failing to comply with an order to provide information or assistance.

Mr Morris was not present in court on Wednesday when Mr Lapinski told Registrar Sally Bolton the latest developments in the case.

He is yet to enter a plea.

Trevor John Morris, 71, leaves the Alice Springs Local Court in October 2024. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Mr Lapinski told the court he’d only made the submissions to the prosecution on Tuesday, and sought an adjournment as the DPP would “require some time to consider them”.

Prosecutor Ingrid Ibbett did not oppose the adjournment, which Registrar Bolton granted.

However, noting the time the matter had been before the court, she said if a response came early the necessary paperwork should be filed in order to potentially move the matter to an earlier date.

Mr Morris, out on bail, was arrested nearly two months after NT Police raided a home in suburban Alice Springs on May 10 last year.

The raid uncovered two micro-SD cards, which upon police digital forensic analysis, allegedly uncovered child abuse material.

Mr Morris was granted bail by Judge David Woodroffe in July last year, at his first court appearance, which was a closed court hearing.

His matter was listed to return to court on February 11 by Registrar Bolton.

Originally published as Why Trevor Morris, 71, charged with accessing child abuse material, could ‘avoid’ a trial