Cop denies failing to look into paroled rapist's history before he sexually abused, choked and filmed a seven-year-old girl he held captive in the bathroom of a Sydney dance studio
- Leading Senior Constable Andrew Bruce has denied neglecting his duty
- He is accused of failing to look into the criminal history of Anthony Sampieri
- Bruce allegedly failed to alert the department overseeing Sampieri's parole
- Sampieri allegedly raped, choked and filmed a seven-year-old girl
A Sydney police officer has formally denied neglecting his duty weeks before a parolee allegedly sexually assaulted a child in a bathroom.
Leading Senior Constable Andrew Michael Bruce, 31, is accused of failing to look into the criminal history of Anthony Peter Sampieri after a woman in October 2018 complained the parolee was making threatening phone calls.
Bruce is also accused of failing to alert the department overseeing Sampieri's parole on three separate occasions between November 4 and November 8.
Leading Senior Constable Andrew Michael Bruce, 31, is accused of failing to look into the criminal history of Anthony Peter Sampieri (pictured) after a woman in October 2018 complained the parolee was making threatening phone calls
Sampieri allegedly raped, choked and filmed a seven-year-old girl held captive in the bathroom of a Kogarah dance studio on November 15.
Bruce's lawyer, Warwick Anderson, entered pleas of not guilty to four charges of neglecting duty on behalf of his client on Thursday at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court.
The police officer - who has been suspended with pay - was not required to appear and is also excused from attending the next mention due on August 8.
Sampieri allegedly raped, choked and filmed a seven-year-old girl held captive in the bathroom (pictured) of a Kogarah dance studio on November 15
'There has already been quite a deal of unhelpful and premature comment made by others and we won't add to that,' Mr Anderson told reporters outside court.
'The allegations are very tough. He (Bruce) had his life turned upside down and he's just doing his best.'
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Sampieri is expected to face Central Local Court on June 13 on more than 40 charges related to the alleged Kogarah attack and earlier alleged abusive phone calls.
He is yet to enter a plea and has been in negotiations with prosecutors about the facts of the cases.
Sampieri is expected to face Central Local Court on June 13 on more than 40 charges related to the alleged Kogarah attack and earlier alleged abusive phone calls
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