Uncle, 55, 'threatened police with a machete' after being accused of sexually abusing his young niece while blind drunk
- Man allegedly threatened police with a machete in Victoria in March 2019
- He had been accused of sexually abusing his young niece while 'blind drunk'
- The man cannot be named to protect the identity of his alleged victim
A man allegedly threatened police with a machete after being accused of sexually abusing his young niece while 'blind drunk'.
The 55-year-old faces eight charges including sexually penetrating a child under the age of 12 and making threats to kill in regional Victoria in March 2019.
The man cannot be named to protect the identity of his alleged victim.
Prosecutors told Victoria's Supreme Court on Tuesday the man admitted being 'blind drunk' at the time of the allegations. But he denied abusing his niece
When she complained and police arrived, her uncle allegedly taunted officers while armed with a machete and made comments about cutting people's heads off.
Prosecutors told Victoria's Supreme Court on Tuesday the man admitted being 'blind drunk' at the time of the allegations. But he denied abusing his niece.
He was tasered and arrested before later being bailed to attend his mother's interstate funeral.
But his bail was revoked in June after he allegedly breached a court order to communicate with his wife and deleted the messages.
His wife also allegedly verbally abused a police officer and magistrate when her husband was taken back into custody.
After one court hearing, she also allegedly made it clear she'd researched the wife of the police informant in the case.
'It caused me to fear for my children and partner,' the officer told the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
The uncle's lawyers want him released on bail, arguing the case is weak and the pending trial will be delayed because of COVID-19.
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Barrister David Cronin questioned the credibility of the niece, raising the possibility some evidence may have been fabricated or the result of collusion.
The man's sister-in-law told Justice John Champion the accused was a kind, gentle and honourable person who did not even like to swear in front of women.
'Maybe I watch too much Perry Mason (an American crime show) but you're innocent until you're proven guilty,' she said.
The court was also told about tensions within the family, with the accused's wife at one point alleging she herself had been sexually assaulted by the complainant's father. No charges were laid over this allegation.
The uncle faces two charges of sexually penetrating a child under the age of 12 and one of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 16.
He is also charged with three counts of making threats to kill, and one each of damaging property and resisting an emergency worker.
His niece allegedly woke up her aunt and said her uncle was 'trying to make me naked'.
A row broke out and the man allegedly chased his family with a machete.
The court was told police body-worn cameras captured him standing at his front door, holding the weapon and taunting officers.
He allegedly told them to come inside and made references to cutting people's heads off before being tasered.
Prosecutor Lachlan Cameron does not want the man released from custody again. Police fear he will interfere with witnesses and commit other crimes.
Justice Champion reserved his decision on whether to grant bail.
