SA DPP drops two charges in case against HIV+ pedophile Jadd William Brooker but says he is guilty of two more sex crimes
Two sex charges against an HIV+ pedophile who vowed to infect children and adults with the virus have been dropped – but two more will proceed, a court has heard.
Police & Courts
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Prosecutors have dropped two sex abuse charges filed against HIV+ pedophile Jadd William Brooker – but still allege he is guilty of yet more crimes against children.
Brooker appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday by video link, and was scheduled to answer the four outstanding charges laid against him.
However Tim Clarke, for Brooker, said that could not occur because attempts to negotiate a resolution to those remaining charges had been unsuccessful.
“The prosecution is going to say it’s not proceeding with two of the counts, but is proceeding with the other two,” he said.
“I’ve sought to obtain instructions from my client … regrettably, because of the need to get (copies of the) electronic evidence, he’s not been in a position to give those instructions.”
Brooker, 38, of Glenelg East, has already earned two sentencing discounts for pleading guilty to dozens of child sex charges.
He earned up to 40 per cent off his prison time for confessing to seven crimes just weeks after his arrest in September, and 15 per cent for 32 guilty pleas in May.
Previously, the court has heard Brooker expressed his intention to infect adults and children with HIV and filmed himself attempting to do so, meaning a victim had to be tested.
Prosecutors alleged he had committed “category five” crimes – involving acts such as coerced bondage, sadism, torture or bestiality – against six children and teenagers.
They also alleged the 4.5 million files of child abuse material on Brooker’s electronic devices could link him to pedophiles in Australia and around the world.
Investigations into that material led to the arrests of former Labor staffer Ben Waters, former senior corrections officer Stewart Iain Berry and a third man.
On Wednesday, Mr Clarke asked for further time to speak with Brooker and ascertain what pleas he would enter to the two remaining charges.
The state’s chief magistrate, Judge Mary-Louise Hribal, remanded Brooker in custody until next month.
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