A MAGISTRATE has revoked the non-publication order on the name of the man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl at Adamstown Heights last week, saying the interest of open justice loomed large and the man could be adequately kept safe in protective custody.
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Brett David Hill, 47, appeared in Newcastle Local Court via audio visual link from a Sydney jail on Wednesday charged with kidnapping, six counts of aggravated sexual assault and four counts of aggravated indecent assault.
His solicitor, Rob Hussey, applied to extend a non-publication order made by a registrar in Newcastle Bail Court on Sunday, telling magistrate Robert Stone his client feared for his safety and was currently being housed in protective custody with another inmate who has access to a television, a kettle and razor blades.
The police prosecutor and Child Abuse Squad detectives urged Mr Stone to lift the order, saying the disclosure of Mr Hill’s identity would not jeopardise the case.
The court heard DNA evidence had been recovered and a preliminary test had been done.
Ultimately, Mr Stone revoked the order, saying the overriding issue was open justice. He adjourned the matter until August.
Mr Hill is accused of kidnapping an 11-year-old girl who was walking through Hudson Park about 9.15am on June 12.
Police allege Mr Hill threatened the girl and told her he had a knife before he sexually assaulted the girl and forced her into a red Holden Commodore.
He then allegedly drove to a remote area of bushland where he detained the girl for a number of hours and allegedly repeatedly sexually and indecently assaulted the girl, police say.
The girl was released at Kotara railway station about 2.15pm on Tuesday.
After a comprehensive investigation, Mr Hill was arrested in Beaumont Street on Saturday.
Mr Hussey initially asked Mr Stone that Mr Hill not appear on the audio visual link in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday.
But once the matter was dealt with and the order revoked, Mr Stone turned to the man on screen and asked if he was another inmate.
“No, I’m Hill,” Mr Hill said.
Mr Hill, who was clean shaven with a shaved head and wearing prison greens, promptly left the AVL suite as a man in the court gallery shouted out “hang the bastard”.
The Newcastle Herald understands Mr Hill would have not been able to hear the argument on the non-publication order because inmates are kept on mute until their matter is mention.
