Joe Prendergast rape case heard in Murgon Court
A fiery exchange about delays in the case against businessman Joe Prendergast were addressed on Wednesday, when police provided the court with some of the 17 pieces of evidence it had been waiting for.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A fiery exchange in the Murgon Magistrates Court in January about delays in the case against South Burnett businessman Joe Prendergast were addressed on Wednesday, when police provided the court with the updates needed.
Mr Prendergast, managing director of Dusty Joe’s Pty Ltd which operates the Dusty Hill Vineyard in Moffatdale, Joe’s Grand Hotel in Goomeri and The Goomeri Bakery, is charged with 11 counts of rape and other sexual assault offences, alleged to have been committed over six years against a woman and an underage girl.
He has not entered any pleas and was not in court in person on Wednesday.
At his last appearance in the Murgon Court, magistrate Andrew Sinclair told police and Mr Prendergast’s defence team “delays will not be tolerated” and that he wanted things “moved to conclusion”.
He ordered 17 items of outstanding evidence requested by the defence, including audio and video recordings, be submitted to them by Wednesday, February 7 2023 and a time frame provided for anything outstanding.
Police prosecutor Barry Stevens on Wednesday handed Mr Sinclair an email from the arresting officer in the case.
“The arresting officer’s point by point saying what he’s done, what he hasn’t yet done and expected time frame for the rest of it,” Sergeant Stevens said.
Mr Sinclair gave the prosecution until March 13, 2024 to provide the remaining items and instructed solicitor Sjaana Stephens who was representing the law firm for Mr Prendergast, to file any applications for further disclosure by that date.
“He should have everything by then, Ms Stephens,” Mr Sinclair said.
“I would like to make a ruling as soon as possible.”
In June, 2023, following investigations by Murgon police, Mr Prendergast was charged with 11 counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, two counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 and one attempted indecent assault of a child under 16.
The first complainant, a woman in her 30s, was allegedly sexually assaulted by Mr Prendergast between September 2017 and January 2020.
The second complainant was allegedly sexually assaulted and inappropriately touched between December 25, 2022, and February 26, 2023 while she was under 16.
The matter will be heard again at Murgon Magistrates Court on March 13, 2024.
Man’s 365km stealing spree leaves him thousands of dollars out of pocket
A man has blamed his ADHD medication and being over stretched with work for a prolific stealing spree in which he swiped items from businesses stretching from Gympie to Gladstone.
How businessman tried to sue police for $750k after bitter realty stoush
A regional Qld businessman who accused police of unlawful arrest and conspiracy has lost his claim against them, with the Supreme Court revealing extraordinary new details about his behaviour in another civil matter.