A Port Adelaide magistrate has told police the bail conditions they imposed on a man charged with a rape that occurred 34 years ago were “inadequate”, before placing him under supervision.
Key points:
- William Trotter was arrested in November, accused of raping a jogger in 1988
- He appeared in court for the first time today
- His bail has been varied to include a ban on contacting the alleged victim or leaving the state
The court heard 62-year-old William Trotter was linked to the alleged 1988 rape by a DNA match in November last year.
He was then charged with five counts of unlawful sexual intercourse without consent.
Mr Trotter is accused of threatening a woman with a knife as she went for a jog at Croydon, before dragging her into a car and sexually assaulting her at another location in August 1988.
Police prosecutors today told Port Adelaide Magistrate Jayanthi Pandya that Mr Trotter had been charged with a “historical rape” and his DNA had been matched to a swab taken from the scene at the time.
He said the accused was placed on simple police bail after his arrest.
“These are particularly serious allegations — the conditions imposed by police are inadequate,” Magistrate Pandya said.
She added conditions that Mr Trotter be under the supervision of the Department of Corrections, not contact the alleged victim and be banned from leaving the state and applying for a passport.
Jovanka Ivanic, for Mr Trotter, said her client was not opposed to the additional bail conditions.
The case will be back before the court in April.
