ALLEGED child sex offender, Thomas McKeown, has had his committal hearing adjourned for four weeks until Tuesday, February 25, to allow the prosecution to finalise a brief of evidence against the former teacher.
Mr McKeown was set to have his committal brief heard on Tuesday, January 21, but the prosecution asked for an extra month to continue putting together what was described in court as a large and complex brief.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Tim Waite said statements are still being gathered for the brief.
A brief usually includes details of charges laid, witness statements, bail information and forensic and crime scene evidence, and also collates all the case’s relevant material.
Once complete, brief will be sent to the New South Wales Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which take over prosecution from police in all child sexual assault matters.
The ODPP, which manages a variety of serious criminal offences for the police, often moves cases to District or the Supreme courts following the Local Court committal process.
Staff at the ODPP will decide what, if any, charges against Mr McKeown would be sought for testing in court, and without a guilty plea the case then has the potential to go to trial.
Magistrate Jacqueline Trad granted the month-long extension, ruling the prosecution now had until Tuesday, February 18 to serve the brief, including a balance of brief to be served to the defendant’s lawyer.
The matter is now listed for another committal on Tuesday, February 25 at the Broken Hill local court.
Mr McKeown’s bail will continue unvaried, he is excused from attending the committal hearing due to health concerns.
The health concerns raised by defence council Adam Ly are described as due to an alleged suicide attempt last year which left Mr McKeown wheelchair-bound, potentially permanently.
Mr McKeown’s bail was revised last week following the birth of his child, allowing him to spend time with the newborn as an exception to a clause prohibiting him to be near children younger than 18 years old.
