A FORMER police officer charged with assault and perjury offences dating back to 2009 has appeared in court for the first time since he was charged by investigators from the Police Integrity Commission (PIC).
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Nigel Douglas Kentish, a former senior constable with New England police, fronted Armidale Local Court yesterday after he was charged with eight offences last year, stemming from an incident while he was on duty six years ago.
The 60-year-old Armidale local was not required to enter pleas to the charges, which relate to the arrest and search of Armidale woman Janel Boekeman in September 2009 at Armidale Police Station.
Co-accused Anthony Kirk, a serving sergeant in the Northern Region, did not appear in court and agent solicitor Clive Sharkey said he was instructed by a principal solicitor Kirk wasn’t required.
“They advise that, because it was a court attendance notice, he wasn’t required to attend,” he told the court.
Kirk, 50, is charged with fabricating false evidence with intent to mislead a judicial tribunal and making a false statement under oath amounting to perjury.
He allegedly falsified part of a statement he made in September 2009, about what caused “Senior Constable Kentish to fall in the dock”, before allegedly making the statement under oath in court in July 2010.
The PIC alleges Kentish assaulted Ms Boekeman on September 26, 2009, causing actual bodily harm.
The former veteran officer is then accused of fabricating false evidence in parts of an official police statement on the incident, with intent to mislead the Armidale Local Court in proceedings in October, 2010.
Kentish is also charged with making the false statements under oath on July 23, 2010, at Armidale.
“Make false statement under oath – there are four of those charges,” Magistrate Darryl Pearce said as he examined the court papers.
Kentish left the NSW Police between 2010 and 2011. Following an investigation by the PIC, he and Kirk were charged on December 15 last year, and issued court attendance notices to appear on Wednesday.
“I am instructed by the Director of Public Prosecutions,” police prosecutor Sergeant Cheryl Hall told the court.
“I have got instructions to seek brief orders.”
“Do I understand the DPP are taking this matter?” Mr Pearce asked.
“Yes, that’s right,” Sergeant Hall replied.
Mr Pearce ordered a brief be served on the solicitors for the accused before the case returns to court in late March.
