Fmr PM's ex-partner to plead guilty to sexual assault

Tim Mathieson, the former partner of ex-prime minister Julia Gillard is expected to plead guilty to a charge of sexual assault.

Transcript

00:00 Well, Mr Matheson appeared in this very brief hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates Court

00:06 to deal with three charges which have been laid by Victoria Police's Sexual Offences

00:11 Investigation Unit.

00:12 Now, Mr Matheson appeared via video link with his lawyer wearing a suit and tie and his

00:17 lawyer told the court that Mr Matheson would be willing to plead guilty to one of those

00:22 three charges, a charge of sexual assault, if the other two charges were withdrawn.

00:27 Prosecutors indicated they would agree to that and so the magistrate struck out those

00:31 two charges.

00:32 Now, as I mentioned, it was a very brief hearing so we didn't get any more detail on those

00:37 charges or what the two dropped charges were either.

00:40 So what happens next then, Joseph?

00:43 So Mr Matheson's lawyer asked the court to consider a diversion order.

00:46 So that's an option that's available that can, for offenders, means they won't receive

00:52 a criminal record, provided they undertake a series of conditions which are aimed at

00:56 benefiting the community and rehabilitating them.

00:59 So now police will take some time to speak to the complainant in this case and to form

01:04 their own view about whether a diversion order is appropriate here.

01:07 Any diversion order would need to be signed off on by a magistrate.

01:11 So to give them some time to do all of that, the case has been adjourned and it's expected

01:14 back in court at the end of August.

01:16 [BLANK_AUDIO]