Kevin John Anderson with warrant history granted bail on assault charges
A Northern Rivers man currently serving a community corrections order has told a court he thought his matters were finalised after being arrested for failing to appear at a scheduled hearing.
A Northern Rivers man with a history of warrants, currently serving a community corrections order has told a court he thought his matters were finalised after being arrested for failing to appear at a scheduled hearing.
Kevin John Anderson, 43, appeared before Bail Division Court from Lismore police station on Friday.
He is facing charges of common assault, intimidation, and contravening an apprehended violence order.
Anderson is also charged with giving a false name and failing to appear in accordance with bail acknowledgment.
No formal pleas have yet been entered.
Prosecutors raised concerns about failing to appear and endangering the victim.
During proceedings, he stated police were not opposed to bail but emphasised the necessity of imposing potential reporting residences and other conditions to protect the complainant.
In a tense exchange, the prosecution noted that given options available for future sentencing, Anderson could potentially spend more time waiting in custody than he would ultimately receive if convicted.
Anderson’s defence lawyer, Sally McPherson, argued for leniency, explaining the defendant failed to attend the court date on October 8 because he mistakenly believed all his matters had been finalised when he was placed on a community corrections order (CCO) five days earlier, on October 3.
She conceded the existence of warrants on his record but highlighted that he had shown no violence on his record since 2016.
She told the court police noted his “cooperative,” “compliant,” and “polite” behaviour during his arrest.
Acknowledging the bail concern, Ms S. Wills ultimately found that specific bail conditions could “ameliorate the risk”.
Anderson was granted strict conditional bail and a non-contact court order was imposed.
He remains on bail to reappear in Lismore Local Court on December 1.
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Originally published as Kevin John Anderson with warrant history granted bail on assault charges
