Perth private school principal accused of perverted act suddenly dies before he can face court

A former school principal accused of possessing child exploitation material has died suddenly before he was due to appear in court.

Paul Whitehead, who has been principal of Bold Park Community School in Perth for almost a decade, appeared in Midland District Court on Tuesday.

But his lawyer, Carole MacKay, told the court Tuesday morning that the 56-year-old had died on Monday, Western Australian reported.

Charges against Whitehead, including possession of child exploitation material, failure to obey an officer and unlawful possession of a controlled or prescribed drug, were dropped.

The circumstances of his death were reportedly not considered suspicious.

Whitehead had been on extended leave from school for the past six months and was previously arrested and charged in September.

At the time, police seized electronic devices believed to be his from his Ellenbrook home.

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