Bunbury man faces trial on host of sexual assault charges

A Bunbury man will go on trial in the District Court after revealing he would contest accusations of sexual assault and persistent violence against a woman. Mervyn Thomas Bell appeared in Bunbury Magistrates Court via videolink from Bunbury Regional Prison where he entered pleas of not guilty to various charges including making threats to harm, sexual assault and persistently engaging in family violence. It was alleged Mr Bell assaulted a woman known to him and persistently engaged in violence against her between May and December last year. Mr Bell was also accused of making threats to harm the same woman on three occasions last November, of having sexually assaulted her on two occasions last November and of distributing an intimate image of her without her consent last December. It was alleged the incidents took place in Carey Park. Mr Bell also pleaded not guilty to a further charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice in April this year. The charges were committed to the Bunbury District Court for a trial listing hearing on December 22. Mr Bell’s other charges, which included providing false details, breaching a violence restraining order and driving on a cancelled licence, were adjourned to January 17. Mr Bell was remanded in custody.