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Girls' views to be sought before bail hearing
A man charged with sexual violation of a girl when she was aged only two or three years will stay in custody for up to two weeks while the police ask two alleged victims for their views on his release on bail.
The man, 73-year-old Dennis John Batchelor, was arrested and appeared in Christchurch District Court on Monday and was remanded in custody to today for bail to be considered.
Defence counsel Paul Norcross said Batchelor, who is a married man who lives in Belfast, sought release on bail under conditions that could stipulate that he must live at his home, surrender his passport, not contact the two complainants, and not be alone with any children unless in the company of an adult.
But Judge Oke Blaikie said he wanted the girls ? who were now much older because the alleged offending occurred from 2001 to 2006 ? consulted about their views on Batchelor?s release on bail.
They were serious charges and ?matters must not be rushed?, he told Norcross.
The police will contact the girls, and when the bail is considered, the alleged victims will be able to be told where Batchelor is living and the conditions of his release.
Judge Blaikie also wanted the judge who considered bail to be told where the girls were now living.
The girls are not related to Batchelor.
The judge remanded Batchelor in custody for the bail hearing on October 4, but told Norcross that the case could be called earlier if all the details were available.
Norcross indicated the charges would be defended.
Batchelor is charged with sexually violating a girl who must have been aged only two or three years in 2001 and 2002, and assaulting the same child when she was aged seven in 2006.
He is also charged with indecently assaulting another girl in 2001, 2005, and 2006.
