Ashley Campbell charged with possessing knife at Rockhampton court

The partner of Courtney Anderson, who jumped from a vehicle he was driving on the Bruce Hway and died from her injuries, has found himself charged for what he allegedly did at court.

Courtney Anderson and Ashley John Campbell

The de facto partner of a woman who jumped from a moving vehicle on the Bruce Highway and died from her injuries has fronted court again for a charge from that day and landed himself in trouble with the law for another matter at the same time.

Ashley John Campbell, 36, appeared at Rockhampton Magistrates Court charged with one count of driving under the influence of drugs.

However, as The Morning Bulletin arrived at court, he was being escorted out of the courthouse by three Queensland Police Service officers.

Mr Campbell attended court with “a camping knife”, according to court staff.

Security screening identified the weapon immediately upon arrival and there were no physical or verbal threats to the public, a QPS spokeswoman said.

He appeared in court later that morning for his driving charge and defence lawyer Katherine Hanson requested the proceedings be adjourned to link up with another charge on March 7.

She said Mr Campbell wished to participate in case conferencing.

Courtney Paige Anderson, 28, is being mourned after she died on the Bruce Hwy.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman confirmed a 36-year-old man from the Gladstone suburb of New Auckland was charged with one count of possessing a knife in a public place after attending Rockhampton courthouse this morning with a knife and was issued with a notice to appear at court on March 7.

Mr Campbell’s driving charge was adjourned to March 7 and his bail was enlarged.

Mr Campbell has not entered any pleas.

The court heard during his first appearance for the driving charge, in January, that it was from an alleged offence on April 1, 2024 at Bajool on the Bruce Highway.

Courtney Paige Anderson, 28, from New Auckland suffered “catastrophic injuries” at Bajool, south of Rockhampton, on Easter Monday, April 1, 2024.

Mr Campbell has not been charged with any offences in relation to Ms Anderson’s death.

Ms Anderson was Mr Campbell’s de facto partner and the driver of the vehicle that Ms Anderson jumped from before her death.

Ashley John Campbell, 36, appeared in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on January 13, 2025, charged with one count of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The court heard the charge was from an alleged offence on April 1, 2024 at Bajool on the Bruce Highway.

She died on the side of the highway after being found 8m from the gold Toyota HiLux she was travelling in with Mr Campbell.

The incident happened about 5.15pm near the intersection at Sisalana Rd.

Witnesses stopped and rendered first aid, with a Rockhampton woman the first to call triple-0.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said police had finalised their investigation into Courtney’s death and no criminal charges had been laid.

He said the matter was referred to the Coroner and as such it would be inappropriate for Queensland Police Service to comment further.

The spokesman said police continued to investigate traffic offences related to that day, however, this would not impact the coronial investigation.