Canberra Man Faces Multiple Serious Charges in ACT Court
A 38-year-old man from Canberra has been refused bail for a third time in the ACT Magistrates Court, facing serious allegations that include sexual abuse of a child and a violent attack on his former partner. The court heard disturbing details about both cases during a recent hearing.
Child Sexual Abuse Allegations Detailed
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his alleged victim, is charged with sexual intercourse with a child under 10 years old and grooming offences. According to court documents, the alleged abuse occurred in early 2024 while he was babysitting his five-year-old niece.
Prosecutors told the court that the man is accused of sexually abusing the young girl and showing her pornography during these babysitting sessions. He allegedly instructed the child to keep his conduct secret from others. The man has formally denied these allegations through his legal representation.
Separate Violent Incident Revealed
During Wednesday's hearing, Magistrate Ian Temby revealed that the same man faces additional charges relating to a violent domestic incident that occurred later in 2024. The court heard that several people, including the man's former partner, arrived at his residence with weapons over unrelated accusations.
According to the magistrate's summary of events, the man allegedly threatened to kill his ex-partner before proceeding to stab her and strike her with a baseball bat. The magistrate noted that the accused man was also assaulted during this confrontation, though details of those injuries were not specified in court.
Bail Application Rejected for Third Time
The man's defence lawyer argued for conditional release, suggesting her client could relocate to New South Wales and had previously complied with bail conditions for several months before his arrest in September last year. However, prosecutor Harry Wagner opposed bail, noting that the alleged child sexual abuse occurred while the man was already serving a New South Wales intensive correction order.
Magistrate Temby ultimately refused the bail application, citing the man's extensive criminal history that includes previous assaults, family violence incidents, and contraventions of protection orders. The magistrate found there was a genuine likelihood that the man would reoffend and potentially endanger the safety of his niece and her parents if released from custody.
Legal Proceedings Continue
The charges relating to the violent domestic incident have been committed to the Supreme Court and are awaiting a trial date. Meanwhile, the child sexual abuse case is scheduled to return to the ACT Magistrates Court in February for further proceedings.
This case highlights the complex nature of criminal matters before Canberra's courts, where multiple serious allegations against a single individual must be carefully considered by judicial authorities. The protection of alleged victims, particularly children, remains a paramount concern in such proceedings.
