‘Duress’ behind admissions

By Whitney Harris
Updated November 7 2012 - 4:15am, first published December 8 2010 - 9:59am
CRIME SCENE: Police inspect the area where a female was assaulted in August.
CRIME SCENE: Police inspect the area where a female was assaulted in August.

A BENDIGO man charged with the sexual assault of two girls waiting at bus stops in St Aidans Road wants to challenge the police recorded interview in which he is alleged to have admitted his actions, a court has heard.Bradley Dean, 25, claims he was coming down from drugs and alcohol, had not slept and was under duress when he made admissions to the investigating officers in August.Defence lawyer Megan Aumair told the Bendigo Magistrates Court that the matter could not proceed until the record of interview was made available to the defence.Dean is accused of reaching under a 15-year-old schoolgirl’s dress before groping another young woman’s breast, at bus stops just metres apart from each other in St Aidans Road. During a bail application for Dean on August 25 – the day after the alleged attacks – Leading Senior Constable Len Ladner, prosecuting, said the first assault occurred about 8am while the 15-year-old was waiting for a school bus.The second alleged attack occurred just a short time later at a different bus stop where a 20-year-old university student was waiting. Dean is alleged to have groped the woman’s breast, then wrapped his arms around her and tried to drag her across the road. He was arrested that afternoon but denied the allegations, the court was told during the bail application. The following day he took part in an identification parade and was identified as the attacker.Leading Senior Constable Ladner said Dean was again interviewed and made full admissions. He said Dean had admitted drinking and taking drugs including cannabis and speed the night before, and was staying at a friend’s house near St Aidans Road. The matter is expected to proceed to a contested hearing at a date to be fixed next year.

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