The trial of Brett David Hill, the man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl at Adamstown Heights last year, will be heard by judge-alone due to the potential for prejudicial publicity.
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Hill, 48, has pleaded guilty to detaining the girl as she was walking through Hudson Park about 9.15am on June 12, 2018 and sexually assaulting her a number of times, including at an unknown bush location.
But he has pleaded not guilty to a number of other allegations stemming from the five-hour abduction and will face a trial next month.
Hill's defence applied for a judge-alone trial due to the amount of publicity the case has garnered since the girl was kidnapped and Hill was arrested and charged.
And on Thursday, Judge Ian Bourke, SC, granted the defence application, ruling that it was in the interest of justice that Hill's trial be heard judge-alone.
Judge Bourke also ruled that evidence relating to the charges that Hill has admitted should be admissible in the trial for the charges that he denies.
"It would be contrary to common sense not to admit it," Judge Bourke says.
"The probative value far outweighs any danger of unfair prejudice."
Hill's trial is currently scheduled to begin on October 8, but could be delayed a week.
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