Barry Cable: Witnesses must give evidence in person at trial over historical child sex abuse allegations

Witnesses in the case against disgraced footballer Barry Cable must give evidence in person after a District Court judge dismissed an application to hear their testimony via video link. District Court Judge Martin Flynn refused the application on Thursday. The reasons for denying the request have been suppressed by the court. The 82-year-old did not appear in court on Thursday, but was represented by his solicitor Gerald Yin. Mr Cable is less than two months away from facing a judge-alone trial over historical child sex abuse allegations. He was granted the judge-alone trial in May last year, after a successful application from his legal team, which included Mr Yin and high-profile lawyer Tom Percy KC. The former North Melbourne VFL player faces five counts of indecently dealing with a girl under 13 and two counts of carnal knowledge of a child under 13 — relating to the one alleged victim — which prosecutors allege were committed nearly six decades ago. Mr Cable has pleaded not guilty to the charges and refutes all claims levelled against him. The trial is scheduled to start on March 10. Sexual Assault Resource Centre 1800 199 888 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800