Media denied proper to call high-profile rape accused
A QUEENSLAND Justice of the Peace has denied or adjourned purposes by main media firms to disclose the identification of a high-profile man accused of rape.
The person, going through two fees of raping a girl in October 2021, had his case talked about for the second time in Toowoomba Magistrates Court docket on Wednesday.
Solicitors for Information Corp, Seven and 9 networks, and the ABC utilized to Justice of the Peace Kay Philipson to make use of her discretionary powers to grant an exemption to Queensland’s Sexual Offences Act that prohibits naming individuals accused of rape except and till they’re dedicated to face trial.
Ms Philipson stated it was written within the “strict building” of the legislation that she couldn’t use these powers except the matter proceeded to a committal listening to.
“I’m doing no extra on this point out than figuring out the place proceedings are at and what the following step is. I’m not holding a committal right this moment, I’m not taking witnesses right this moment,” she stated.
The high-profile man was excused from showing in particular person and his barrister Andrew Hoare stated there had been points with some parts of the prosecution’s digital temporary of proof not functioning.
The media organisations had additionally sought to achieve entry to courtroom paperwork in regards to the case however Ms Philipson stated she had no energy to impose orders on the registrar, who receives and manages courtroom paperwork.
“The place is my energy to direct the registrar to do something?” Ms Philipson stated.
The high-profile man was excused from showing in particular person and Mr Hoare stated there had been points with some parts of the prosecution’s digital temporary of proof not functioning.
Mr Hoare stated prosecutors had sought a forensic obtain of proof and an extra assertion from an professional and his consumer’s authorized crew would wish six weeks to look at the prosecution’s temporary of proof.
“We can be requesting six weeks to overview the whole lot of the temporary and to be able to tell the courtroom as to how this matter will progress and the following point out,” Mr Hoare stated.
Ms Friedewald didn’t oppose the size of the adjournment and stated it was acceptable as prosecutors wanted a month to organize their report.
Ms Philipson granted an software for the matter to be adjourned till April 5 at Toowoomba Magistrates Court docket, prolonged the accused man’s bail and excused him from showing in particular person on the subsequent listening to.
The media organisations’ lawyer, Zander Croft, stated outdoors courtroom that his shoppers would proceed to pursue their software to call the accused man.
Mr Croft stated the one software that was dismissed wouldn’t have an effect on different purposes to call the accused and to grant entry to courtroom paperwork.
“The following stage could be that the applying can be heard at a committal listening to… if it proceeds to a committal,” Mr Croft stated.
