Former West Coast Eagles footballer Josh Hill has pleaded not guilty to seven historic child sex offences linked to a 15-year-old girl and will go to trial.
The 36-year-old was charged with three counts of indecent dealings with a child aged 13-16 years old and four counts of sexually penetrating a child aged 13-16.
Police allege the offending occurred at the height of Mr Hill’s career, in Broome in December 2015 and in Scarborough, Perth in January 2016.
Hill appeared via video link in Broome Magistrates Court on Monday and entered his not guilty plea to all seven charges, reported the ABC.
He is on bail and appeared on the link from Melbourne.
Magistrate Deen Potter read the charges to Mr Hill and noted each of the alleged offences involved a 15-year-old child.
Hill did not speak aside from entering his pleas.
The 36-year-old also on Monday had his bail extended under the existing conditions.
Former footballer Josh Hill (pictured) will go to trial after he pleaded not guilty to seven charges
His lawyer signalled his intention to apply for a variation, seeking permission for Mr Hill to attend court remotely.
Hill, who was born in Subiaco, was drafted by the Western Bulldogs as pick No 61 in the 2006 National Draft before making his debut in the 2007 season.
He would go on to play 66 games for the Victorian side before being traded to the West Coast in 2012, where he would return 151 goals in 107 matches, before being delisted by the footy club at the end of the 2017 season.
Hill was stood down from his role with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria and had his contract with a local footy club terminated after he was charged with the alleged child sex offences in February.
The father-of-two was stood down from his role as a youth coordinator for the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, reported The Herald Sun at the time.
‘We have been informed of a matter involving serious interstate criminal charges relating to an employee. We are very concerned about this news,’ a spokesperson for the First People’s Assembly said.
Hill (above) appeared via video link from Melbourne on Monday at Broome Magistrate’s Court
He had signed for Point Cook football club in January, but the football club moved to sever ties with the former Eagles forward.
‘The Point Cook Football Club’s executives were yesterday made aware of developments and met this morning in relation to senior men’s player Josh Hill; including that he has been charged by Western Australian Police with offences that are now before the courts,’ a club statement said at the time.
‘The club acknowledges the importance of the presumption of innocence in this case and also the need to treat all parties with respect and understanding.’
The case is scheduled to return to the Broome District Court on August 19.
