AUSTRALIA
Perth Now
South Australian magistrate threw out paedophile charges, Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse told
SALLY BROOKS THE ADVERTISER MARCH 20, 2014
POLICE had difficulty successfully prosecuting paedophiles almost two decades ago, with one case thrown out by a magistrate who was himself later charged with child sex offences, an inquiry has heard.
Detective Senior Sergeant Walter Conte has told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse charges were laid against a paedophile following a raid in 1993 but the matter was dropped.
“The charges for some reason were brought before the Adelaide Magistrates Court whereas they were originally set down for a committal hearing at the Holden Hill Magistrates Court,” he said.
“I recall bringing along my witnesses, and essentially everything was thrown out by Magistrate (Richard) Brown, or perhaps there was no evidence tendered, or something like that.”
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