Jury fails to reach verdict in South Burnett businessman sexual abuse trial

A jury has failed to reach a verdict for a second time in the trial of a South Burnett businessman charged with sexually abusing his daughter over a decade. Warning: Distressing content.

Kingaroy Magistrates Court. File Photo.

For the second time in a year, a jury has failed to deliver a verdict for a man on trial for allegedly maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with his daughter over a decade.

On Thursday, Crown Prosecutor Sarah McCray presented the prosecution’s case, claiming the abuse began when the girl was six and continued regularly until she was 16.

“Most often in the family home in her bedroom, her parents’ bedroom, the bathroom,” Ms McCray said.

“It would sometimes occur in the car when they would go out together.”

The court heard the alleged victim confided in a school friend when she was about 14 years old.

“When she was 17, she told her boss at work and his wife,” Ms McCray said.

Although the employers reported the matter to police, the victim did not make a formal complaint at the time, the court was told.

Years later, after marrying and having children, the alleged victim disclosed the accusations of abuse to her husband, identifying her father as the perpetrator.

Several witnesses were called to give evidence during the trial, including the alleged victim, who testified behind closed doors.

Two witnesses testified and said the alleged victim appeared “distressed” when recounting the alleged offences to them years earlier.

Ms McCray characterised the alleged victim as “truthful” and “reliable.”

Kingaroy Court.

The court heard about a family civil dispute involving both the defendant and the alleged victim that had previously gone through the courts.

The businessman’s barrister described the alleged victim as “dishonest.”

After failing to reach a verdict on Friday, the jury came back Monday but let the court know they couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict.

Judge Smith asked the jury to deliberate to try and reach a ‘majority’ 11 to one verdict, however after more deliberations Judge Smith asked if there was a reasonable possibility a verdict could be reached.

“No there is not,” the foreperson said.

Judge Smith discharged the jury and the trial concluded.

In November, 2023, the man was on trial for the same charge along with an additional charge of rape where it was alleged he raped his daughter when she was an adult.

The jury ultimately found him not guilty of the rape charge, but they were hung on the second.

The matter will be heard again at the Brisbane District Court on Friday, October 11.

The man was released on bail.