Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua triple-fatal case set for committal hearing

After months of lengthy delays, the manslaughter case against the mother of Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas over a horror triple fatal car crash is finally set to proceed.

Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua, mother of Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas, leaves the Magistrates Court in Southport. Picture: Dan Peled

The manslaughter case against the mother of Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas over a horror crash which left three people dead will finally proceed to a committal hearing in November after lengthy delays.

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.

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

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

Taufua is the mother of Broncos and NSW Blues powerhouse Payne Haas and rising Gold Coast Titans player Klese Haas.

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

The case had been mentioned in court on more than a dozen occasions over the past 17 months, but was 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 in May, 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.”

The mother of Broncos player Payne Haas, Uiatu “Joan” Taufua being taken to the watch house from Gold Coast University Hospital in 2023. Source: 9 News.

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

On Thursday, Ms Magee granted a defence application to cross-examine a police forensics officer at a committal hearing.

The hearing was set down for November 27.

Ms Magee said Taufua would have to appear in person.

Taufua is on remand and no plea has been entered.