HOMICIDE detectives investigating the 1997 disappearance and murder of Bathurst teenager Jessica Small have charged a Newcastle man over allegations of historic sexual assaults.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Detectives uncovered allegations against the man while continuing the Jessica Small investigation.
He is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in the Bathurst area in the mid-1990s.
Jessica was aged just 15 when she was abducted by an unknown man in the early hours of Sunday, October 26, 1997.
She has not been seen or heard from since and a 2014 coronial inquest found that she had been murdered.
Detectives from the Homicide Squad's Unsolved Homicide Unit are continuing to re-investigate the circumstances surrounding Jessica's abduction and suspected murder under Strike Force Carica II.
As part of their inquiries, strike force investigators received reports a teenage girl had been sexually assaulted by a man known to her in the Bathurst area in the mid-90s.
Following extensive investigations, a 43-year-old man was arrested at Newcastle Police Station earlier today (Tuesday).
He has been charged with two counts of sexual intercourse without consent.
Police will allege in court that the man sexually assaulted the girl, who was known to him, in 1994 and 1996, when she was aged 17 and 19.
The Bruinbun man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today.
A $1 million NSW Government reward remains in place for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Jessica Small's disappearance and murder.
Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Carica II investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Information is treated in strict confidence.
The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
HAVE YOUR SAY
- Send us a letter to the editor using the form below ...