FORMER teacher and alleged child sex offender Thomas McKeown will remain on bail for another month as his committal hearing was adjourned for a third time on Tuesday.
Mr McKeown’s committal has been moved to Tuesday, March 25, as requested by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and approved by Magistrate Jaqueline Trad.
The further delay was do the to brief in Mr McKeown’s case not being complete.
Tuesday, March 25 is six months and a day from Mr McKeown’s first committal mention which took place in September last year.
Usually six months is the maximum amount of time a committal healing can be adjourned for, unless the magistrate rules further adjournments will help the course of justice.
The accused, or their legal representative, must agree to move, which Mr McKeown’s defence council Adam Ly did.
Mr McKeown has not been seen in court in months, not appearing for the hearing on Tuesday, and excused from appearing at the next committal date if legally represented.
The new father’s extensive injuries, sustained late last year in a suicide attempt, have previously been cited as the reason for him being excused from appearing.
This update in the case marks three adjournments for the case committal, with the first on Tuesday, November 26 2024, the second on Tuesday, January 21, and third on Tuesday, February 25.
Mr Ly appeared via video link and seemed frustrated with the further committal.
He said the proceedings had been delayed due to additional charges being added throughout the last six months and new complainants coming forward.
Mr McKeown has remained on bail since his conditions were set on Wednesday, September 11.
At this time he was facing eight charges but since then he’s breached bail and been accused of an additional 30 offences, all of which are separate counts of aggravated sexually touching another person, with all victims alleged to be children.
Mr McKeown’s multiple accompanying apprehended violence orders will follow the committal and are currently set to be heard in March.
