Former Hawthorn doctor Con Kyriakou, 76, has been found incapable of standing trial and will not front court on 34 charges of sexually assaulting more than 50 patients, including three cases of rape. These incidents allegedly took place between 1978 and 2004 while the GP was medically examining the patients.
The County Court ruled that he was not capable of giving evidence after independent tests showed that he suffered from cognitive impairment.
As a result, there will be a special hearing to determine his involvement in the alleged offences. This hearing, however, is unlikely to happen in 2021.
According to the Office of Public Prosecutions, a special hearing in the County Court can make only a qualified finding of guilt which would not amount to a conviction. Hence, even if found guilty, he would be sent for supervision at Thomas Embling Hospital and is unlikely to be jailed.
READ MORE: Former Hawthorn doctor Con Kyriakou, charged with 34 sexual offences
Dozens of his victims were angered by the development and are furious that the matter had not been referred to police when the allegations were first made to the medical watchdog in 2016. At that time, Dr Kyriakou had denied the allegations and said they were “stupid” outside the court in January.
Doctor Kyriakou worked as a GP for decades until 2017 when he voluntarily withdrew. At the time he was being investigated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
It is believed that dozens of additional charges will be laid against the doctor following statements to detectives.
