AN ARMIDALE man accused of sexually assaulting a woman while she was bound and gagged will be forced to face a district court judge for the second time this year.
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The matter went to trial in Armidale in June.
But it was put on hold when a jury was discharged hours before retiring to deliberate on the man’s fate.
After the trial was abandoned during the June Armidale District Court sittings, prosecutors confirmed they would be proceeding with their case.
The matter was briefly mentioned in Armidale Local Court on Monday, when it came before Magistrate Karen Stafford.
The man was previously excused from appearing in person for the mention.
“I thought that was finished,” Magistrate Stafford said.
But police prosecutor Sergeant Cheryl Hal indicated solicitors were continuing to work on the case.
“There has been some discussion between the [Director of Public Prosecutions] and the defence,” she said.
Sergeant Hall asked for the scheduling date to be locked in for the August District Court sittings.
The man, whose name has been suppressed to protect the identity of his alleged victim, is accused of assaulting a woman in his Armidale home on two occasions in 2012.
The prosecution accused the man of binding and gagging the woman during the alleged assault, which they claimed involved a rug beater and a zucchini.
His trial began on June 1, but after a jury spent more than one-and-a-half days listening to evidence the trial was abandoned.
Jurors were close to retiring to reach their verdict when they were suddenly discharged after the prosecution made a move to introduce more evidence.
The matter will return to court on August 24.