Lawyers for a woman who alleges she was sexually abused by football champion Barry Cable say they intend to call evidence from another woman who also claims she was abused by the now 79-year-old in the 1980s and 90s.
Details of the proposed witness were revealed during an opening statement by the woman's barrister Tim Hammond SC at the start of the five-day District Court hearing of the woman's civil case against Mr Cable.
He denies all the allegations against him and has never been charged.
Her case had been on foot for four years and in judgements which were previously suppressed, it was revealed police investigated a complaint by her in the late 90s, but prosecutors ruled there were no reasonable prospects of Mr Cable being convicted.
Similar allegations to be raised
The woman's case centres on allegations Mr Cable sexually abused her as a teenager in the late 1960's and early 70s when he was in his twenties and in the prime of his football career.
She also alleges the sexual misconduct and harassment continued after she turned 18 into when she was in her 30s.
Today Mr Hammond told the court he was intending to call a witness, who lives overseas, to testify about issues of "a sensitive nature" which the woman would rely on as "similar fact or propensity evidence".
Judge Mark Herron said he would have to decide later whether the proposed evidence is relevant or admissible.
In a previous — now unsuppressed — judgement, it was revealed the proposed evidence related to other alleged sexual offending by Mr Cable against the witness whose identity was suppressed.
Barry Cable not appearing
Mr Cable is not represented by a lawyer and has informed the court he does not intend to take any part in the trial.
At the start of the hearing this morning Judge Herron said the court had received an email from Mr Cable's son seeking an adjournment of the trial until March.
Details of another email from his son were also read in court, in which he claimed the woman's lawyers appeared to be taking advantage "of Dad's inability to fund an ongoing defence."
However, Judge Herron said he was not satisfied there was any proper basis for the case to be adjourned.
The woman started her legal action in 2019 after the law in WA changed to remove time limits for people who allege they were sexually abused from taking legal action against those they claim were responsible.
Woman reported Mr Cable to police in 1990s
The woman was the first witness at the hearing, testifying she did take her allegations to police in the late 1990s after seeing an episode of Australian Story about Mr Cable.
She said the program had made her "afraid" that his behaviour was continuing because she believed he was still working with vulnerable children.
The woman said she gave a statement to detectives, which she then read to the court.
It included claims the alleged abuse started with Mr Cable asking her sexualised questions when she was about 12 or 13 before quickly escalating to sexual assaults.
At times she became emotional and at one point broke down in tears when she said if she refused to do what Mr Cable wanted, he would say to her that her younger sister would be his "special girl".
