UPDATE: Magistrates Court dates postponed for two months
The following people are due to appear in magistrates court for over 470 charges.
South Burnett
Don't miss out on the headlines from South Burnett. Followed categories will be added to My News.
UPDATE: The following 50 people are not due to appear in court for another two months now due to the latest coronarus pandemic response from Queensland Courts.
Queensland Chief Magistrate, Judge Terry Gardiner, has issued two new practice directions in response to the developing COVID-19 pandemic.
The practice directions implement a consistent statewide approach to hearing all matters in Magistrates Courts and Childrens Court (when constituted by a Magistrate) from 30 March 2020.
“Until further notice, there will be no physical appearances in any matter, except by an aggrieved party in an urgent private domestic violence application, members of the media, or with leave of the Court,” Mr Gardiner said.
“Instead all matters will be conducted by telephone or video conference, including appearances by people in custody.
“Magistrates Courts will hear those matters listed in the practice direction. These will include overnight custody arrests, urgent domestic violence and child protection applications, and domestic violence applications currently before the Court which have not been considered.”
Apart from the specified matters, all civil and criminal matters currently before the Court will be adjourned to a date to be fixed.
The Court will continue to accept applications to hear matters where delay would cause substantial prejudice to a party. A Magistrate will consider the application and decide whether the matter will be heard.
The practice directions will reduce the number of people present in Queensland’s Magistrates Courts, consistent with current health advice regarding social distancing, and limit the opportunities for transmission of the virus within the community.
Queensland Courts have been reviewing all operations to ensure essential services are maintained consistent with health advice. This has included expanding the use of telephone, audio visual equipment and digital technology to reduce the numbers of people required to attend Court.
Magistrates Courts Practice Direction 3/2020 – Court Arrangements (COVID-19) and Childrens Court (Magistrates Courts) Practice Direction 1/2020 – Court Arrangements (COVID-19) in the Childrens Court when constituted by a Magistrate are available on the Queensland Courts website.
EARLIER: Despite the increased precautions in place around the state’s court rooms, 50 people are due to appear in Kingaroy magistrate court today for a combined total of 472 charges.
The list of charges include fraud, breach of bail conditions, possession of dangerous drugs and drug utencils, indecent treatement of a child under 16 and rape.
Sweeping court operation changes in response to virus
Courts across the state have been advised to take new precautionary measures in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The new systems will endeavour to cut down on the transport of prisoners, reduce face time in courts, cut back the number of people present in court rooms and push to deal with matters via phone and writing where possible.
Defendants in custody who are legally represented will have their appearance excused while those aren’t represented will appear via video link.
According to the new practice directions, legal representatives and other parties, including unrepresented defendants, can utilise either electronic adjournment or written requests to seek a specific date or make other requests.
Here is the list of all 50 people due to appear in court, whether they appear in person or via phone and/or video links:
1. Michael Keith Andersen
2. Matthew James Axleby
3. Miss Toni Lee Beaumont
4. Miss Billie-Jo Agnes Maree Bell
5. Mr Kale Lyndon Cafferman
6. Robert David Castle
7. Mykell Dean Chapman
8. Jeffrey Alexander Richard Clevens
9. Mr Mark Anthony Daley
10. Mr Matthew Robert Edwards
11. Joshua Keith Flood
12. Ryan Joshua John Green
13. Melissa Ann Harm
14. Mr Paul Peter Hesketh
15. Mr Michael William Hinds
16. Charles Anthony Hoger
17. Liam Francis Hollowood
18. Bernard James Hunter
19. Dempsey Robert James Jacobs
20. Miss Amanda Marie Jensen
21. Ashlee Marie Karla
22. Jamie Lee Karla
23. Mr Berend Klazema
24. Brody Laurence Guy Leclerc
25. Dailin Liedemann
26. Jesse Anthony Madden
27. Kyle Anthony Millar
28. Miss Jasmine Moore
29. Kathleen Helen O’Brien
30. Arianna Antanina Offord
31. Mark William Owens
32. Jess Tiarne Quirey
33. Mr Ronald Charles Reed
34. Mr Aussie Stan Lewis Rose
35. Koby Frances Rowe
36. Kyrah Mary Sager
37. Ian Jeffrey Sandow
38. Andrew Geoffrey Stevenson
39. Miss Renae Gloria Sutherland
40. Bruce Alexander Taylor
41. Gavin Wayne Tessmann
42. Miss Sonia May Thompson
43. David John Tolson
44. Miss Rebekah Louisa-May Treveton
45. Mr Jason Phillip Turner
46. Jay Lee Wadsworth
47. Mr Dominic Paul Watkins
48. Peter David Watkins
49. Mr James Matthew Watson
50. Kenneth Andrew Whitson
Man charged after shots allegedly fired at Qld property
A man faces a “dangerous conduct” charge after a bizarre callout which led to police swarming a property and setting up road spikes for several hours.
Naked intruder masturbates in front of elderly woman after taking shower
An elderly woman ran in fear for her life after a 37-year-old man on a drug bender broke into her home, stripped naked and used her shower before masturbating in front of her.