Grace Tame’s vile sexual abuser suffers a ‘medical episode’: Court trial is delayed after he was charged with harassment
- Nicolaas Ockter Bester has case delayed
- Grace Tame in court to face former teacher
- The case was adjourned until June 22
The man who sexually abused former Australian of the Year Grace Tame as a child has had his court case into allegations he harassed her online delayed because of medical issues.
Nicolaas Ockter Bester, 70, is accused of making public posts on social media platform Twitter in relation to and directed at Ms Tame between April and August last year.
Ms Tame was in Hobart Magistrates Court on Thursday to face her alleged harasser in the courtroom.
Dressing in a light brown coat and jeans, she arrived at the court clutching the hand of fiancé Max Heerey and was flanked in the courtroom by other supporters.
Bester previously pleaded not guilty to three counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.
Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame (left) arrives at the Hobart Magistrates Court hand-in-hand with partner Max Heerey
Bester appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Thursday, where a type of preliminary hearing was expected to occur.
His lawyer Todd Kovacic told the court Bester had in recent weeks suffered a medical episode and was unable to give proper instructions.
‘(Bester’s) fitness is now an issue,’ Mr Kovavic said.
The lawyer did not provide any details to the court about the medical issue. The matter was adjourned until June 22.
Bester, who did not speak to media outside court, was charged by police in October.
Former teacher Nicolaas Bester (pictured) leaves Hobart Magistrates Court after his case was delayed due to medical issues
2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame (left) was in the courtroom flanked by her partner Max (right) and other supporters
Former teacher Bester was convicted in 2011 and sentenced to two years and 10 months jail for abusing Ms Tame when she was a student at his school, as well as for possessing child exploitation material.
Ms Tame was the 2021 Australian of the Year and has advocated for survivors of abuse.
She was instrumental in a campaign that resulted in 2020 law changes in her home state of Tasmania allowing survivors to publicly tell their stories.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Nicolaas Bester’s lawyer Todd Kovacic (right) told the court his client suffered a medical episode recently and was unable to give proper instructions.