Man charged with historic sex abuse offending in Mackay region in vegetative state in hospital

The case against a man facing horror historic sex abuse allegations has been delayed after it was revealed he is currently in a vegetative state in hospital.

The charges are three counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, and 16 counts of indecent treatment of a child under 12 including expose, indecent film and permit.

The case against a man facing horror historic sex abuse allegations has been delayed after it was revealed he is currently in a vegetative state in hospital.

The man who has not been named at this stage in case it identified any alleged victims, is accused of a raft of offending allegedly committed over two years between early 2011 and 2013 in the Mackay region.

The man, aged in his 50s if facing 20 offences, all of a sexual nature.

The charges are three counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, and 16 counts of indecent treatment of a child under 12 including expose, indecent film and permit.

The case has been ongoing in Mackay Magistrates Court since its first mention in November 2023.

When it was briefly mentioned on Wednesday it was revealed the matter had come to a standstill after Fisher Dore law graduate Nick Coughlan said the man had suffered a stroke and was in a vegetative state in hospital.

Mr Coughlan said they were currently unable to take instructions from the man and were attempting to gather updated medical reports on his condition.

He told the court a family member had indicated a belief he was not recovering any time soon, to which acting magistrate Nigel Rees said the family member was not a qualified medical professional.

Mr Coughlan requested a lengthy adjournment into early 2025 to allow his firm to gather this medical material.

The case was adjourned to mid next year for mention.