Magistrate slams ongoing delays in triple-fatal crash case against Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua

A magistrate has lost patience in court and slammed ongoing delays in a triple-fatal crash case against Payne Haas’ mother saying it “has been going on far too long”.

Uiatu "Joan" Taufua, mother of Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas, was on parole when she allegedly caused a triple-fatal crash on the Gold Coast.

A magistrate has slammed continuing delays in the case against a woman accused of causing an horrific crash which left three people dead on a Gold Coast hinterland road.

Uiatu “Joan” Taufua allegedly fled from a police patrol car on December 30, 2022 before ploughing into an oncoming vehicle just minutes later carrying Steffi Zimmer, her mother Susan Zimmer and her mother’s former partner Chris Fawcett.

All three died at the scene while Taufua, the crash’s only survivor, was charged with manslaughter, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evade police and unlicensed driving.

A charge of mid-range drink driving was added at a subsequent court appearance in March last year.

Taufua is the mother of Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas and rising Gold Coast Titans player Klese.

The mother of Broncos player Payne Haas, Uiatu “Joan” Taufua, 46, was transported to the watch house from Gold Coast University Hospital on Tuesday afternoon. Source: 9 News.

There is no suggestion either of the Haas brothers had any involvement in the collision.

The case has been mentioned in court on more than a dozen occasions over the past 17 months, but is yet to progress past a series of mentions with lawyers for Taufua still waiting on the completion of a psychiatric assessment.

During another mention of the case at Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday, Magistrate Kerry Magee lost patience when told work was still being done on psychiatric assessments.

“No, no, no, no,” she said.

“The court has been waiting for the completion of a psychiatric assessment since last October.

“This has been going on far too long.

“People are presumed to have capacity (mental sanity) unless proven otherwise.”

One of the cars involved in a horror Bonogin car crash on the Gold Coast's outskirts. Picture: Sam Stolz

She ordered the assessment to be completed by June 13, with prosecutors given until June 27 to respond.

The case will return to court on July 11.

Magistrate Magee said the court would hear submissions on that date on why the case should not proceed to a committal hearing with cross-examination of witnesses.

At the previous mention of the case in April, appearing on behalf of the Sydney-based Kings Law Group, defence barrister Martin Longhurst told the court a psychiatric report was “still being worked on”, with interviews still to be carried out with members of Taufua’s family.

Mr Longhurst said he was conscious of the case moving forward to the committal hearing phase – often a precursor to a trial, because of concerns from prosecutors “that this matter seems to be dragging on without progress”.

Tributes left for the three people involved in the horror crash at Bonogin. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

However, the court was given further instruction on Thursday that the psychiatric report was still being worked on, with further interviews required with Ms Taufua and members of her family.

But Magistrate Magee said that was an all too familiar story.

“It’s all too vague,” she said.

“This matter has been in limbo for far too long.”