• A Current Affair reporter Ben McCormack faced court in Sydney this morning
  • McCormack, 42, is charged with transmitting child porn with a carriage service 
  • The journalist was taken to hospital following his arrest by detectives in April 
  • McCormack may plead guilty to charges at his next appearance later this month 
  • Lawyer Sam Macedone said negotiations were ‘on foot’ with the DPP

By Daniel Piotrowski for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 01:39 BST, 5 September 2017 | Updated: 03:18 BST, 5 September 2017

Child porn accused TV reporter Ben McCormack is locked in negotiations with prosecutors and will soon enter a plea, a court has heard. 

The suspended A Current Affair reporter appeared in front of a magistrate on Tuesday. 

His appearance came about six months after he was charged with allegedly using a carriage service to send child pornography. 

Suspended A Current Affair reporter Ben McCormack (centre) arrives at Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday morning

Suspended A Current Affair reporter Ben McCormack (centre) arrives at Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday morning

McCormack came close to answering questions from the media - but eventually declined to comment

McCormack came close to answering questions from the media - but eventually declined to comment

McCormack came close to answering questions from the media – but eventually declined to comment

McCormack’s lawyer Sam Macedone told Magistrate Jennifer Atkinson he had negotiations ‘on foot’ with Commonwealth prosecutors. 

He floated the possibility his client may plead guilty. 

‘If it’s a plea of guilty, it’ll be committed for sentence to the District Court,’ Mr Macedone said. 

‘There’s really negotiations at the moment’.

McCormack’s bail conditions were varied so he only has to report to police once a week. 

McCormack's lawyer floated the possibility of a guilty plea depending upon talks with the Commonwealth DPP

McCormack's lawyer floated the possibility of a guilty plea depending upon talks with the Commonwealth DPP

His bail conditions were relaxed so he only needs to report to police once a week (right)

His bail conditions were relaxed so he only needs to report to police once a week (right)

McCormack’s lawyer floated the possibility of a guilty plea depending upon talks with the Commonwealth DPP. His bail conditions were relaxed so he only needs to report to police once a week (right)

Channel 9 journalist Ben McCormack (right) is released from Redfern police station after being charged with sending child pornography material in April

Channel 9 journalist Ben McCormack (right) is released from Redfern police station after being charged with sending child pornography material in April

Channel 9 journalist Ben McCormack (right) is released from Redfern police station after being charged with sending child pornography material in April

A Current Affair reporter Ben McCormack (centre) is released from Redfern police station after his arrest on child pornography charges in April 

A Current Affair reporter Ben McCormack (centre) is released from Redfern police station after his arrest on child pornography charges in April 

A Current Affair reporter Ben McCormack (centre) is released from Redfern police station after his arrest on child pornography charges in April 

Daily Mail Australia understands the lawyers are negotiating over the facts relating to one of the two offences he has been charged with.

The journalist was the face of the program’s coverage of Hey Dad! paedophile Robert Hughes.

Outside court, Mr Macedone said he did not yet know whether his client would plead guilty or not guilty. 

 

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