Three teenage boys from Sydney's elite Scots College, charged with the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl in an alleyway in Sydney's eastern suburbs, appeared in court for the first time on Tuesday. The boys, two aged 14 and one aged 13, had their matter heard at Surry Hills Children's Court but remained outside the courtroom.
Allegations and Charges
The court heard that the trio, who are on bail, have been issued an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) prohibiting them from coming within 200 metres of the alleged victim. The boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were charged following an alleged incident on Wednesday, 22 July.
One of the 14-year-olds and the 13-year-old face charges of aggravated sexual assault in the company of others and two counts of aggravated sexual touching. The other 14-year-old is charged with aggravated sexual assault in the company of others and one count of aggravated sexual touching. Court documents allege the incident occurred over a 55-minute period.
Court Proceedings and Media Warning
Judge Sue Duncombe warned media in court about the need to protect the teenagers' identities after hearing that some of their names had been revealed in online comment sections. "This matter has obviously attracted a lot of media attention so far," Duncombe said. "There have already been some repercussions on some of the young people from being identified."
The matter was adjourned for eight weeks until 20 October. On Monday, defamation lawyer Rebekah Giles, representing two of the boys, sent a letter to media outlets reminding them of their obligations under the Children Criminal Proceedings Act, which prohibits the identification of any children involved in criminal proceedings. The accused trio remain on bail and have yet to enter a plea.
School's Response
Scots College, where the boys are students, is one of Sydney's oldest and most expensive boys' schools, with fees up to $47,000 a year. The school has stated it is cooperating with police regarding the alleged rape. In a statement on 13 August, the school said: "Scots College is aware three students are under investigation by NSW Police in relation to an alleged incident that occurred outside school hours."
