Nicolaas Ockert Bester, a former school teacher, has been deemed unfit to stand trial in the Hobart Magistrates Court. Mr. Bester was charged in 2022 with three counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass, or cause offence. These charges relate to public posts made on Twitter, now X, allegedly directed at Grace Tame, which a reasonable person "would regard as being, in all circumstances, menacing." Mr. Bester pleaded not guilty to these charges in 2023.
Background
In 2011, Mr. Bester was sentenced to jail for sexually abusing Ms. Tame, who was a 15-year-old student at the time, and for possessing child exploitation material.
Court Decision
Magistrate Andrew McKee accepted a joint submission from the prosecution and defence regarding Mr. Bester's fitness to stand trial. Medical evidence provided to the court earlier this year indicated that Mr. Bester has vascular dementia.
Magistrate McKee stated, "I therefore find that Mr. Bester is unfit to stand trial and will not become fit to stand trial in the next 12 months."
Mr. Bester's lawyer, Todd Kovacic, stated outside the court that the magistrate's decision was "the only choice the court had" given the circumstances.
Upcoming Proceedings
The matter is scheduled to return to court for a "special hearing" in July, preceded by a directions hearing in April.