Lawyers for ex-MasterChef contestant Ben Ungermann have flagged a possible application to permanently halt the sexual assault case against him.
He faces three charges of sexually touching a 16-year-old girl in Melbourne without her consent on February 23, 2020.
Ungermann's barrister Abbie Roodenburg told Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday she may apply for a permanent stay of the proceedings against the 37-year-old.
If approved by magistrate Mia Stylianou, the stay would spell the end of the prosecution case against Ungermann.
He is from Queensland and finished second place in the 2017 season of the Network 10 cooking show.
He is accused of sexually touching his alleged victim three times, including on her breast, at Docklands.
If a contested hearing goes ahead, the girl and three child witnesses are expected to give evidence before Ms Stylianou.
Ungermann appeared in court via video link and remains on bail ahead of a further hearing on May 19.
