Officer Conor McCurley, 26, accused of child abuse weeks after his Yarra Valley wedding, appears in court hand-in-hand with his new bride as he vows to defend his innocence
A police officer charged with child abuse just a month after his dream wedding has appeared in court hand-in-hand with his new wife.
Constable Conor McCurley, 26, was dismissed by Victoria Police high command after being charged with 19 historical offenses in August.
He was due to marry his partner Kim Trajcevski, who joined him in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday for a brief hearing.
Conor McCurley was supported in court by his new wife Kim. The accusation had become public just before their wedding
McCurley declined to answer questions about the wedding as he left the court, but a quick search of Kim’s social media accounts reveals she is now using his last name.
She was also seen wearing a ring on her wedding finger.
The officer has been suspended without pay while the case moves through the legal system.
McCurley is charged including committing indecent acts with or in the presence of a child under 16, sexual penetration and touching the genitals of his alleged victim.
The girl claims McCurley committed the offenses before he was a member of Victoria Police.
On Friday, Magistrate Donna Bakos allowed McCurley’s attorney to bring her client’s alleged victim into court for cross-examination.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will be one of six witnesses interviewed by McCurley’s defense.
The court heard that McCurley plans to vigorously contest the charges, and the case is scheduled for a contested hearing in February.
Ms Bakos said allowing cross-examination of his alleged victim was in the ‘interests of justice’.
In delivering her ruling, Ms Bakos revealed that the alleged victim was the ‘star witness’, and that there was no other direct evidence linking McCurley to the alleged offences.
Others involved in the case can only offer bills the woman gave them, Bakos said.
“I accept that cross-examination is warranted,” she said.
A “ground rules” hearing will take place prior to the contested hearing to ensure that the alleged victim is not unnecessarily harassed with questions that are not relevant to the case.
The cross-examination of alleged sex victims has long come under scrutiny, amid claims that the process could deter these individuals.
The court heard that McCurley’s alleged victim had made several statements relating to ‘numerous allegations over a period of time’.
Kim Trajcevski is now McCurley. She would marry McCurley after charges were filed against him
It is alleged that Conor McCurley (above) committed the indecent acts before becoming a police officer
The news came just weeks before McCurley was due to marry his fiancée of two years at the picturesque Acacia Ridge Winery in the Yarra Valley.
The glitzy venue costs $13,800 to rent – and that’s before catering and flowers are factored in
McCurley was charged on August 16 following an internal police investigation by Victoria Police’s Sexual Crimes and Family Violence Unit.
The news came just weeks before McCurley was due to marry his fiancée of two years at the Yarra Valley’s picturesque Acacia Ridge Winery, which cost $13,800 for the venue alone.
The couple’s wedding countdown website showed a timeline of their love story, detailing how they met in May 2020, bought a piece of land together to build their first home in January 2021 and got engaged in May of that year.
The couple also held an engagement party in February last year.
The dress code for their wedding is ‘formal cocktail’, with an afternoon ceremony followed by an evening reception.
McCurley’s fiancé was to have five bridesmaids, while he planned five groomsmen – whom he called “The Gentlemen.”
The couple had asked their 120 guests not to bring their children, saying: “While we love your little ones, in order to give all our guests the opportunity to properly celebrate, we kindly ask that there be no children.”
McCurley remains out on bail in the community.
His contested hearing is expected to last more than three days.
Arm in arm, the couple refused to discuss their marriage when questioned outside court on Friday
McCurley (left) leaves the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday