Minus his trademark Hey Dad! glasses and with his hair now grey, Robert Hughes would be unrecognizable to fans of the long-running Australian sitcom.
Silent and blank-faced, the 64-year-old walked into Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday as reporters yelled questions and cameras flashed.
Hughes, who is facing 11 charges relating to the sexual and indecent assault of five girls, formally waived his right to a committal in a brief court appearance on Tuesday.
His lawyer Greg Walsh said the one-time TV icon will defend his innocence when trial proceedings begin on Friday.
'This Friday he'll be before the District Court pleading not guilty,' Mr Walsh said.
'We would probably try and get a trial date depending on court's availability around September, October this year,' Mr Walsh told reporters outside court.
'I would anticipate it will be a lengthy trial. There could be pre-trial arguments which could take four to six weeks or even longer.'
Mr Walsh said his client was doing well despite his high profile sparking massive media attention and his restrictive bail conditions.
'His attitude is typical of a man who is doing his very best to deal with very difficult circumstances,' he said.
'I'm rather impressed by the way he's going about it.
'He's got loving support from (his partner) Robyn Gardiner and his daughter in England, Jessica.'
Mr Walsh said Hughes was applying himself diligently to preparing for the trial.
Two of the five alleged victims have given a series of print and television interviews accusing Hughes of assaulting them when they were children.
The accusations preceded his arrest in London last year and his subsequent return to Australia where he was charged.
Hughes played the lead role of Martin Kelly in Hey Dad!, which ran from 1987 to 1994.
from sky news site
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
HEY DAD! STAR ROBERT HUGHES TO WAIVE RIGHT TO COMMITTAL HEARING BEFORE TRIAL OVER INDECENT ASSAULT CHARGES
Former Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes is set to proceed straight to trial on charges of indecent assault, after the actor's lawyer indicated he will waive his right to a committal hearing.
Hughes is facing 11 charges relating to the indecent assault of five girls in Sydney between 1984 and 1990.
The court has heard two of the alleged victims participated in media interviews before the actor's arrest last year.
At a hearing in Sydney today, the 64-year-old's lawyer, Greg Walsh, was granted access to material from Channel Seven, Channel Nine and the Pacific Magazines Group after lawyers for the victims previously argued the material was protected.
Outside court, Mr Walsh also said he would be waiving his client's right to a committal hearing and the matter will go straight to trial.
"That's being done so we can expedite the matter," he said.
"He wants to try to bring this to a head as quickly as possible."
Mr Walsh is still waiting for access to material from Bauer Media, publisher of Woman's Day.
He says the interview material is crucial to his client's defence.
"Well I think it's a matter of common sense. Any person who is making a complaint, if they are paid to give an account, it may well have relevance to their credibility and reliability," he said.
"I would have thought that's a matter of common sense but that is for the courts to determine."
When asked if his client will clear his name, Mr Walsh said he was reasonably confident.
He says he is hoping to go to trial before the end of the year.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/entertainment/a/-/entertainment/18014394/hey-dad-star-robert-hughes-to-waive-right-to-committal-hearing-before-trial-over-indecent-assault-charges/
Hughes is facing 11 charges relating to the indecent assault of five girls in Sydney between 1984 and 1990.
The court has heard two of the alleged victims participated in media interviews before the actor's arrest last year.
At a hearing in Sydney today, the 64-year-old's lawyer, Greg Walsh, was granted access to material from Channel Seven, Channel Nine and the Pacific Magazines Group after lawyers for the victims previously argued the material was protected.
Outside court, Mr Walsh also said he would be waiving his client's right to a committal hearing and the matter will go straight to trial.
"That's being done so we can expedite the matter," he said.
"He wants to try to bring this to a head as quickly as possible."
Mr Walsh is still waiting for access to material from Bauer Media, publisher of Woman's Day.
He says the interview material is crucial to his client's defence.
"Well I think it's a matter of common sense. Any person who is making a complaint, if they are paid to give an account, it may well have relevance to their credibility and reliability," he said.
"I would have thought that's a matter of common sense but that is for the courts to determine."
When asked if his client will clear his name, Mr Walsh said he was reasonably confident.
He says he is hoping to go to trial before the end of the year.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/entertainment/a/-/entertainment/18014394/hey-dad-star-robert-hughes-to-waive-right-to-committal-hearing-before-trial-over-indecent-assault-charges/
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Hey Dad! actor Robert Hughes trying to acquire accusers' interview material
Some of the alleged abuse victims of Hey Dad! actor Robert Hughes are fighting his efforts to get copies of their media interviews.
Hughes is facing 11 charges relating to the indecent assault of five girls in Sydney between 1984 and 1990.
Downing Centre Local Court has heard two of them have given interviews about the accusations against him.
His lawyer, Greg Walsh, told the court subpoenas have been issued for access to the interviews and other material related to them.
But lawyers representing the alleged victims said the information is protected under Sexual Assault Communication Privilege.
Magistrate Jane Culver adjourned the case until later this month.
Outside court, Mr Walsh said the information is an important part of his client's defence, and that the women have been paid for the interviews.
"Despite the fact that these interviews have been published to the world ... it appears that there's a privilege maintained there," he said.
"So we have to give them an opportunity to look at the material and decide whether that privilege is going to be maintained or not."
Mr Walsh said the court case is putting a lot of pressure on Hughes.
"His wife is giving him tremendous support, but naturally a person in his position is doing it pretty tough," he said.
Hughes is excused from his next court appearance.
He returned to Australia after being arrested in London in 2012.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-02/lawyers-for-hey-dad21-actor-trying-to-get-interview-material/4794774
Hughes is facing 11 charges relating to the indecent assault of five girls in Sydney between 1984 and 1990.
Downing Centre Local Court has heard two of them have given interviews about the accusations against him.
His lawyer, Greg Walsh, told the court subpoenas have been issued for access to the interviews and other material related to them.
But lawyers representing the alleged victims said the information is protected under Sexual Assault Communication Privilege.
Magistrate Jane Culver adjourned the case until later this month.
Outside court, Mr Walsh said the information is an important part of his client's defence, and that the women have been paid for the interviews.
"Despite the fact that these interviews have been published to the world ... it appears that there's a privilege maintained there," he said.
"So we have to give them an opportunity to look at the material and decide whether that privilege is going to be maintained or not."
Mr Walsh said the court case is putting a lot of pressure on Hughes.
"His wife is giving him tremendous support, but naturally a person in his position is doing it pretty tough," he said.
Hughes is excused from his next court appearance.
He returned to Australia after being arrested in London in 2012.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-02/lawyers-for-hey-dad21-actor-trying-to-get-interview-material/4794774
Monday, June 10, 2013
Hey dad! TV star Robert Hughes' sex case back in court
HEY Dad! star Robert Hughes has had his bail continued after his sex assault case was briefly mentioned in a Sydney court.
He is facing 11 charges relating to the sexual and indecent assault of five girls between 1984 and 1990 in Sydney's northern suburbs.
His lawyer Greg Walsh told Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday there were disputes about witnesses and subpoenas and he wanted the matter adjourned.
He said two complainants gave media interviews, especially to the Nine Network, where they gave details of alleged assaults.
Mr Walsh described it as a "most unusual situation''.
"Witnesses have been paid a large amount of money for the interviews,'' he said.
Hughes didn't appear in court and his bail was continued.
He played the lead role of Martin Kelly in the hit sitcom series Hey Dad! which ran from 1987 until 1994.
The charges against him include two counts of raping a 14-year-old girl and four counts of indecently assaulting a six-year-old girl.
Hughes has previously indicated he will fight the charges. The case will return to court on July 2.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/hey-dad-tv-star-robert-hughes-sex-case-back-in-court/story-fnii5qqe-1226656799301
He is facing 11 charges relating to the sexual and indecent assault of five girls between 1984 and 1990 in Sydney's northern suburbs.
His lawyer Greg Walsh told Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday there were disputes about witnesses and subpoenas and he wanted the matter adjourned.
He said two complainants gave media interviews, especially to the Nine Network, where they gave details of alleged assaults.
Mr Walsh described it as a "most unusual situation''.
"Witnesses have been paid a large amount of money for the interviews,'' he said.
Hughes didn't appear in court and his bail was continued.
He played the lead role of Martin Kelly in the hit sitcom series Hey Dad! which ran from 1987 until 1994.
The charges against him include two counts of raping a 14-year-old girl and four counts of indecently assaulting a six-year-old girl.
Hughes has previously indicated he will fight the charges. The case will return to court on July 2.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/hey-dad-tv-star-robert-hughes-sex-case-back-in-court/story-fnii5qqe-1226656799301
Monday, May 20, 2013
Penne Hackforth-Jones dies at 64
PENNE Hackforth-Jones, one of Australia's most recognisable actors, has died.
Diagnosed months ago with lung cancer, she died on Saturday, aged 64, Fairfax reports.
Born in 1949 in the US state of Connecticut, Hackforth-Jones was brought up in Australia.
Her first credited screen role was in the 1969 TV series Riptide.
Other small screen appearances include A Country Practice, Bellbird, Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police, Hey Dad..!, Hampton Court and Mother and Son.
She played a bridal shop manageress on the big screen in Muriel's Wedding in 1994.
Most recently she appeared in the ABC's The Doctor Blake Mysteries.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/penne-hackforth-jones-dies-at-64/story-e6frg8n6-1226646424202
Monday, January 28, 2013
Hey Dad! star appears in Sydney court
Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes has appeared in a Sydney court charged with 11 historical child sex offences.
Hughes faced Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday where his matter was mentioned briefly before Magistrate John Andrews.
He is facing 11 charges relating to the sexual and indecent assault of five girls between 1984 and 1990 in Sydney's northern suburbs.
The charges include two counts of raping a 14-year-old girl and four counts of indecently assaulting a six-year-old girl.
Hughes, who played the lead role of Martin Kelly in the hit sitcom series Hey Dad! which ran from 1987 until 1994, did not speak during the brief court appearance.
He has previously indicated he will fight the charges.
Mr Andrews was told the brief of evidence against Hughes was nearly complete and he adjourned the matter until March 5.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/01/29/11/01/robert-hughes-appears-in-sydney-court
Hughes faced Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday where his matter was mentioned briefly before Magistrate John Andrews.
He is facing 11 charges relating to the sexual and indecent assault of five girls between 1984 and 1990 in Sydney's northern suburbs.
The charges include two counts of raping a 14-year-old girl and four counts of indecently assaulting a six-year-old girl.
Hughes, who played the lead role of Martin Kelly in the hit sitcom series Hey Dad! which ran from 1987 until 1994, did not speak during the brief court appearance.
He has previously indicated he will fight the charges.
Mr Andrews was told the brief of evidence against Hughes was nearly complete and he adjourned the matter until March 5.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/01/29/11/01/robert-hughes-appears-in-sydney-court
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