The victim of sexual abuse at the hands of a former St Edmund's College teacher will have to wait a bit longer to hear his abuser's fate.
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Garry Leslie Marsh, was due to be sentenced in the ACT Supreme Court on Tuesday, but it had to be delayed due to Marsh's recent open heart surgery.
Marsh was due to face a second trial on the charges this year but pleaded guilty in May to five counts of indecent assault against a former student.
Marsh's defence barrister Greg Walsh said he was troubled by the "most unfortunate situation" and apologised to the victim.
However, he said his client's surgery had been delayed six times meaning he was unable to travel for the sentencing.
Mr Walsh said he had asked for permission to drive Marsh down from Sydney but doctors denied that request.
In 1978 Marsh was the victim's year 6 teacher at St Edmund's College and was later his rugby coach.
He was convicted, in 2017, of various sexual misconduct between 1979 and 1980 and was sentenced to eight years in prison.
However, Marsh successfully appealed the decision last year.
He argued tendency evidence, evidence that points to a defendant's tendency to act in a certain way, was incorrectly admitted in the trial.
The judge had allowed accusations into the trial as evidence, which were not part of the charges, that Marsh touched boys in the class on the buttocks or crotch as a joke and watched them as they showered.
He also argued against the directions given to the jury by the judge.
The ACT Court of Appeal found in Marsh's favour but ordered that he stand trial again for the crimes.
Marsh ultimately pleaded guilty to five charges of indecent assault.
He will be sentenced in early September when he can be present in court.