Alleged kidnapped woman’s ‘torture ordeal captured on camera’

The alleged kidnapping of a woman who claims she was bound, gagged and tortured for hours west of Brisbane was all captured on camera, a court has heard.

Four people accused of kidnapping a woman who was allegedly bound, gagged and tortured with weapons for hours also captured the terrifying ordeal on camera, a court has heard.

Courtney Elizabeth McCreath, 35, was one of four people charged over the alleged kidnapping and torture of the woman at Goodna, east of Ipswich, on June 6, 2021.

McCreath applied for bail in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday, telling Justice Sean Cooper she would abide by any conditions imposed in order to secure her release.

Justice Cooper said it was alleged the complainant had been ambushed while at McCreath’s home and accused of stealing property.

“It is alleged the complainant was assaulted at the applicant’s house for a period of time, the complainant was bound, gagged and injured and that was recorded on one of the co-accused’s phone – that recording was later recovered by police,” he said.

Justice Sean Cooper said it was alleged a woman had been ambushed while at Courtney Elizabeth McCreath’s home and accused of stealing property.

“The complainant was then transported in a vehicle from the applicant’s house to a co-accused’s house.

“It is said the applicant was present in the car as they transported the complainant against her will and that the assaults against the complainant continued at the co-accused’s residence.”

Justice Cooper said the Crown’s case was corroborated by witness statements, video recordings of the attack, and that DNA on duct tape used to bind the complainant had allegedly been linked to McCreath.

“I am satisfied that the allegations of a group attack involving actual physical violence against a single complainant whilst bound and gagged is a very serious matter,” Justice Cooper said.

McCreath is charged with nine offences including torture, deprivation of liberty and assault causing bodily harm.

Courtney Elizabeth McCreath, 35, was one of four people charged over the alleged kidnapping.

The crown opposed McCreath’s bail application, arguing she was a risk of failing to appear and had left the state in the wake of the attack, causing her to be extradited back to Queensland.

McCreath told the court she did not flee, and that she was in fact visiting family in NSW and was returning to Queensland when she and an alleged co-offender were arrested.

In refusing bail, Justice Cooper noted McCreath’s criminal history included eight prior convictions for breaching bail.

“I am not satisfied that the applicant has established the onus on her to demonstrate her detention in custody is not justified,” he said.

“In particular, I am not satisfied that the applicant has demonstrated that the risk of her failing to appear or to commit further offences while on bail would be sufficiently ameliorated by the imposition of any bail conditions.”