The family of a Stake Hill man accused of raping a six-year-old girl yelled at news cameras as they left Mandurah Magistrates Court today.
They accused waiting media of “destroying families”.
The man appeared briefly in court on charges of indecently dealing with a child under 13 and sexually penetrating a child under 13.
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READ NOWThe incidents allegedly occurred between August 20, 2014 and May 14, 2015 when the girl was six.
As the child was in his care as a foster child at the time of the offences, the police prosecutor made an application to close the court.
The sitting Magistrate pointed out that there was an automatic non publication of anything that would identify the girl and refused to close the court.
The accused was represented by the duty lawyer who told the court he had made a legal aid application.
He will reappear on October 18 and was released on bail.