Mayor case is deferred

By Sarah Schwager
A HEARING into allegations of indecent assault against Casey mayor Kevin Bradford has been held off until 1 June.
The case was heard in the County Court of Victoria last Thursday, but Judge Marilyn Harbison concluded a number of documents would have to be compiled before the hearing could continue.
A woman, who has since been convicted of murder, claims Cr Bradford indecently assaulted her while he was a police officer and she was in custody at the Dandenong Police Station in 2000.
The claims were laid when Cr Bradford was a police officer and before he became a councillor.
The mayor has vehemently denied the allegations.
Cr Bradford did not appear in person last week and was instead represented by solicitor Tim Freeman, from Tony Hargreaves and Partners.
Mr Freeman said Cr Bradford left the police force before the disciplinary hearings began.
He said there had been no loss or damages to the defendant and no criminal investigation into the alleged incident.
Speaking on behalf of the second defendant, the State of Victoria, was senior solicitor Julia Greenham.
Ms Greenham said in court that a number of steps had not been followed by the plaintiff’s lawyers, making it difficult for them to compile their case.
She said they had not received any medical reports, statements of claim, or preliminary reports from the woman’s solicitors.
The matters of the other defendants in the case have still not been addressed.
Judge Harbison said the plaintiff’s solicitors would need to explain their progress to her before the directions hearing on 1 June.
She gave the plaintiff’s solicitors until 14 May to provide answers about their delays and to interrogate the first and second defendants.