Psychiatrist's report due in child abuse case

THE Crown Court in Londonderry has been told that a consultant psychiatrist's report in relation to childhood memory is being prepared in the case of a local man who denies two charges of indecently assaulting a primary school girl.

By The Newsroom

Published 8th Jan 2010, 09:09 BST

Updated 12th Jan 2010, 10:01 BST

The 49-year-old defendant, who cannot be named because of his relationship to the complainant, is charged with indecently assaulting her between May 2006 and September 2008, starting when the alleged victim was aged five years.

The case had been listed for trial next month but a defence barrister told Judge Desmond Marrinan that the childhood memory report which has been commissioned by the defence has not yet been completed.

At his arraignment the defendant replied "not guilty" to the two charges and his trial was re-scheduled for April 26.

A new condition was added to the defendant's bail conditions when the prosecution successfully applied for him not to have contact with females under the age of eighteen years without the advance approval of an appropriate social worker.