A MAGISTRATE has disqualified himself from hearing the case of a former police officer charged with perjury.
Magistrate Michael Holmes told Armidale Local Court he would not preside over the case of Nigel Douglas Kentish after hearing the case of a co-accused, earlier in 2016.
“I'm excluded from dealing with the matter … we're going to have to bring a special magistrate in to town,” he said.
Kentish is facing nine charges after an investigation by the Police Integrity Commision in relation to an alleged assault on a woman in the Armidlae Police Station cells in September, 2009.
He was due to front a hearing in August but the court heard he had suffered a serious head injury and was recovering.
Agent solicitor Phil Cox said the new dates were “highly unsuitable” for their barrister but Mr Holmes said the five-day hearing must proceed in June.
“I am dealing with instructions from the chief magistrate that the matter is to be dealt with here in the community, the matter is not going to Sydney,” he said.
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
