Stalking trial date set for Ben Cousins

FALLEN AFL champion Ben Cousins will stand trial in Perth over alleged family violence offences after he pleaded not guilty to 14 charges.

The 40-year-old drug addict was arrested at a Canning Vale house in August, and was charged with 18 offences including aggravated stalking, breaching a violence restraining order and possessing a prohibited drug.

Cousins last week pleaded guilty to the drug charges and was fined $1750 plus costs of $312.80.

The former West Coast captain appeared in Armadale Magistrates Court on Tuesday via video link from Hakea prison and a trial for the stalking offences was listed for September 12.

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A trial date was set for September 12 and the police prosecutor said there were a “league” of officers who could testify.

Defence lawyer Michael Tudori said the case hinged on the evidence of the complainant, Cousins’ ex-partner Maylea Tinecheff.

Cousins has been behind bars since his arrest in August and Mr Tudori flagged reapplying for bail.

Mr Tudori told reporters outside court his long-term client looked healthy and was keen to stay off drugs, but it was hard to get the help he needed in prison.

“With any person who’s going through a drug problem, the first step is them wanting to get help,” he said.

Mr Tudori could not say whether he was confident Cousins would be granted bail but believed it would be good for him.

“If he does get bail, the intention is that he will go into some rehabilitation,” he said.

Cousins’ grandmother was also in court to see him and told reporters he was doing well in prison and she hoped the matter would be resolved soon.

The former West Coast captain is alleged to have told Ms Tinecheff: “I’m going to kill you. I’m going to take your life and your freedom and the things you love the most.”

Cousins also allegedly said he was going to bury her car “where she would survive for a couple of days, then he would bring the kids to play so she would hear them but would not be able to get to them”.

Last week, Cousins pleaded guilty to the drug charges stemming from his arrest and was fined $1750 plus court costs of $312.80.

Cousins has also had a charge of aggravated burglary downgraded to trespassing following negotiations and he is expected to plead guilty on Wednesday.

The Brownlow medallist was released from Acacia prison in January last year, about two months shy of his one-year sentence for stalking Ms Tinecheff.