It was the high profile and explosive charges against members of a family-run circus in the Blue Mountains with horrifying allegations of child abuse.
But the sex abuse case against the seven charged were on Friday all suddenly dropped in court.
Defence lawyer for the group Bryan Wrench said in Penrith Local Court that all of the more than 100 charges levelled against the group would be withdrawn by the Crown.
Mr Wrench said that it appeared at least one of the alleged victims made up the stories of abuse with police overlooking crucial evidence with the whole case “a total concoction.”
All the seven charged — including Therese Ann Cook, 60, her brother Paul Christopher Cook, 54, her daughter Yyani Cook-Williams, 31, and 25-year-old Clarissa Meredith — had links to a circus school in the Blue Mountains at the time they were arrested.
Therese Ann Cook owned The Arcade Circus in Katoomba that catered to children with and without disabilities. The alleged victims were not students at the school.NSW Police on Friday said they would review the court’s decision.
