Trial of former Brisbane Grammar School teacher collapses

The trial of a former Brisbane Grammar School teacher charged with causing grievous bodily harm to a colleague has collapsed at the eleventh hour.

Former Brisbane Grammar School teacher Angela Bronia Brown allegedly attacked another female teacher. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

The trial of a former Brisbane Grammar School teacher charged with causing grievous bodily harm to a colleague has collapsed at the eleventh hour after the parties agreed to take the matter to mediation.

Angela Bronia Brown, 47, was the Head of Arts at the prestigious private school in 2020 when she is alleged to have injured a fellow female teacher who was also a head of department.

Brown, whose surname is now Beard, was charged with one count of grievous bodily harm relating to an alleged incident at Newstead on June 19, 2020.

The case had been due to go to trial in the Brisbane District Court in March but was delisted the same morning it was due to begin after the complainant fell ill.

The matter was again listed for a two to three day trial due to begin on Monday morning, but instead the parties asked for the case to be adjourned, revealing the matter would now go to mediation after further discussions took place late Friday.

“Your honour late on Friday the matter was discussed and it’s going to take a certain course through the adult restorative justice process,” Crown Prosecutor Katrina Overell said.

“In the circumstances both parties are seeking an adjournment and a mention perhaps towards the end of the year to ascertain its progress.”

Judge Brad Farr SC queried why it had taken until the day of the trial for the mediation decision to be reached.

“It was raised at the first listing of the trial this year, the complainant didn’t want to go down that path earlier in the year but she’s had a change of heart,” Ms Overell said.

“I know it’s not an efficient use of court time.”

A Brisbane Grammar spokesman previously confirmed to The Courier-Mail that Brown no longer worked for the school.

“Other than to confirm that the individual charged has resigned from BGS and that the incident did not occur on school grounds, it is not the school’s practice to comment on a matter which is subject to court proceedings,” they said.

Brown’s bail conditions had previously prohibited her from having any contact with the complainant.

Judge Farr amended that condition to allow contact for the purposes of mediation.

The case will be mentioned again in court in mid-December after the parties have had time to take the matter to mediation.