There has been a shock development in the case of two Channel Seven television identities charged with serious rape and torture offences.
A court heard the strength of the allegations are in doubt, with one complainant admitting she lied to police.
She is charged with 42 offences including rape and torture and he faces nine, all allegedly spanning a decade.
Today statements that the complainants gave to police were zeroed in on in court during a directions hearing that also discussed the cross-examination of witnesses.
In a twist, the court was told two of the complainants now say the alleged offending never happened.
Magistrate Stuart Shearer said one of the statements was ‘false’.
“One .. says this never happened … another says ‘everything I told police is a lie’,” he said.
“I have been wondering since day one what the particulars of 15 years of torture are,” Magistrate Shearer said.
Defence lawyer for one of the accused – Simon Lewis – described the case as ‘convoluted’, questioning the admissibility of some evidence.
“It’s difficult to work out at this end of the bar table what the prosecution is going to seek to rely on when the time comes,” Lewis said.
“That’s an argument I suspect I’m going to be having at some stage … I am prepared to put everybody on notice now and it will come as no surprise to Your Honour there will be submissions made…”
Lewis told media outside court they would “have to wait and see” if this meant he was planning to make a no-case submission – which could see the charges thrown out.
The case will return to court in September when witnesses and complainants will be cross-examined to decide whether the case will go to trial.