Man accused of assaulting teenager denied bail ahead of February trial
A 38-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl has been denied bail as his trial is pushed back to February, 13 months after his arrest.
A man accused of assaulting a 14-year-old girl at Hamilton railway station in August last year has been denied bail after his trial was delayed. The accused has been in custody for 13 months and sought release after the judge fell ill this week.
The accused's lawyers argued there was insufficient time for the assault to have occurred based on CCTV footage. They urged conditional bail with reporting and curfew requirements.
Prosecutors opposed release, noting the man had been on bail when the alleged assault happened. He had breached bail eight previous times.
The judge found his criminal history and bail breaches posed a risk to the community. The trial is now scheduled for at least February.
The judge indicated another bail application could be considered if it is further delayed.
- 14 years old
- Victim's age
- 13 months since arrest
- Detention length
- 8 previous breaches before alleged assault
- Bail breaches
Why it mattersThe case highlights how court delays can leave accused people held for long periods awaiting trial, and how judges weigh safety risks against the right to bail.
AustraliaNSW court delays affect how long people spend in custody before trial; this case is part of broader backlogs in the district court system.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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