Man faces Brisbane Magistrates Court on 35 counts of rape
A Queensland man charged with dozens of sexual offences, including 35 alleged rapes, has faced Brisbane Magistrates Court for a committal hearing.
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A Queensland man charged with dozens of sexual offences including 35 alleged rapes has faced Brisbane Magistrates Court for a committal hearing.
The man, who was heavily manacled and escorted by four prison officers, is accused of using threats and in most cases violence when allegedly carrying out the sexual assaults, the court heard.
The man’s charges also include 23 counts of indecent assault by anal intercourse, 14 counts of assault with intent to commit rape, seven counts of indecent assault, four counts of sexual assault, one count of attempted indecent assault by anal intercourse and two counts of deprivation of liberty.
The offences are alleged to have occurred in prison and involve 12 complainants, the court heard.
Crown prosecutor Catherine Birkett today applied for the 12 alleged victims to give evidence outside of the courtroom via video link.
The court heard some of the complainants were scared of the defendant, who can’t be identified for legal reasons, and feared being in the same room as him to give evidence.
One of the alleged victims, an inmate at the time, had taken “drastic measures” in prison to remove himself from the defendant’s presence, the court heard.
“The defendant is a long term prisoner. All of the offences happened in prison. There were threats made at the time, there was violence used at the time in almost every circumstance,” Ms Birkett said.
One of the complainants alleged he was repeatedly raped by the defendant over a period of 18 months and was petrified of him, the court heard.
However the defendant‘s barrister Jacob Robson, who opposed the application, said a complaint were never made during that period.
“A prison officer observed kissing and carrying … when they were in (my client’s) cell and it was common knowledge amongst other prisoners they were in a consensual relationship,” he said.
Mr Robson said the alleged victim might be anxious about giving evidence that might not be seen as true.
“The court shouldn‘t lose sight of the fundamental right of a person who’s been accused of serious crimes to face their accusers in court,” he said.
Acting Magistrate Michael Holohan approved the application finding the alleged victims would be so intimidated if they had to appear in court they would be disadvantaged in giving evidence.
The court was closed to the public for the remainder of the day while the alleged victims gave evidence.