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A father who allowed his 12-year-old daughter to be married in an illegal ceremony has been refused bail, despite him arguing the child bride was a "strong-willed woman" who was "in love".
The 61-year-old was refused bail by a Newcastle court on Wednesday after police charged him with accessory before the fact of sexual intercourse with a child aged 10 to 14 years and procuring a child under the age of 14 for unlawful sexual activity.
In refusing him bail, Magistrate Caleb Franklin said the facts indicated the defendant believed he had done nothing wrong, Raymond Terrace Local Court heard.