AN INVERELL man has appeared in Armidale Local Court to answer to a controversial consorting charge against him.
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Charlie Foster appeared for mention on Tuesday as part of an ongoing retrial into the matter.
In August last year he successfully appealed a 12-month jail sentence for habitually consorting with convicted offenders.
He was the first person charged under the new laws introduced by the NSW government to curb bikie-related violence.
The laws have been criticised by civil libertarians and defence lawyers.
Foster’s mother has previously said he was not involved with bikie gangs the laws were supposed to target.
Last September Foster was ordered to stand a retrial, where his case will be heard afresh.
His initial case had been criticised for a lack of evidence.
Foster is intellectually disabled and, as part of his bail conditions, lives with his grandmother.
His matter was adjourned until May 13.