Convicted murderer Carl Shane Bricola files childhood sexual abuse damages claim against Department of Education over former Mareeba State School teacher William Hollis Stokes
A man with a lifelong drug problem who was convicted of murdering his mate during an alcohol and cannabis-fuelled journey through Cape York in 2014 is suing the Department of Education over childhood sexual abuse he allegedly suffered at the hands of a schoolteacher in Mareeba in the late 70s.
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A MAN with a lifelong drug problem who was convicted of murdering his mate during an alcohol and cannabis-fuelled journey across Cape York in 2014 is suing the Department of Education over childhood sexual abuse he allegedly suffered at the hands of a schoolteacher in Mareeba in the late 70s.
Carl Shane Bricola, 52, has filed a claim for $388,111.85 in damages in the Cairns District Court alleging he was sexually assaulted five times by Far North Queensland teacher William Hollis Stokes in or about 1979 at Mareeba State School.
The allegations came as a surprise to Mr Stokes’ son Morry, when informed of them by the Cairns Post.
“It wasn’t in his nature. He was totally against any sort of child abuse,” he said.
The alleged sexual assaults took place over a two-week period in the back corner of Mr Stokes’ classroom during lunch breaks.
The claim states the classroom was located near the bottom end of the school in a small row of classrooms, “a bit away from the play area”, and that “Stokes contrived reasons to either direct (Bricola) to remain behind in class at lunchtime or to call (Bricola) from the playground and take him to the classroom where the sexual assaults occurred”.
The claim alleges Mr Stokes masturbated Bricola, and raped him.
It also alleges Mr Stokes directed Bricola to masturbate him.
Morry said that after being told of the court case, he rang one of his mother’s sisters who knew his father during his time at Rita Island, south of Ayr.
“She agreed with me that, it just didn’t seem to be in his nature to do anything like that,” Morry said.
The elder Stokes was also remembered by his son as being a community-minded man who was heavily involved in the choral society, school plays, and other events.
Morry said his father taught music for many years after he retired and moved to Cairns, giving private tutoring to a number of children.
He said he was never aware of any complaints or allegations over that period.
In his later years at Warrina Innisfail, Morry said his dad was always organising music programs and games for his fellow residents.
“They just loved him there,” he said.
Bricola alleges the department was either negligent or breached its duty of care towards him by failing to take appropriate steps to investigate Mr Stokes prior to his employment at Mareeba State School when there had been prior complaints about his conduct, failing to review and assess frequent requests for transfer between schools, and failing to review and assess Mr Stokes’ conduct as a teacher “when it knew that prior complaints as to his suitability had been raised”.
The claim says that prior to the date of the alleged assaults, Mr Stokes was “frequently moved between schools”.
Court documents state Mr Stokes was a teacher at Mareeba Rural School in 1956, Alma Den State School in 1957, Aitkenvale State School in 1960, Cardwell State School in 1961, Edge Hill State School in 1962, McDesme State School in 1964, Rita Island State School in 1965, East Ayr State School and Mareeba State School in 1967, and Aitkenvale State School in 1968.
He then taught at Mareeba State School from November 1974 through to January 1989, the claim said, and finished up with the Department of Education in 2006.
Mr Stokes died in Innisfail in 2017, aged 80.
As a result of the alleged sexual assaults, Bricola claims to have suffered injuries such as recurrent major depressive disorder, chronic paranoid schizophrenia, chronic post-traumatic stress disorder and an underlying substance abuse disorder – manifesting in depression, suicidal ideation, hallucinations, mood swings, flashbacks of the sexual abuse triggered by “salient reminders” and other issues.
Shine Lawyers’ Meg Bower said Bricola turned to drugs to cope with his psychological injuries before his life spiralled out of control, “culminating in serious criminal offending”.
Bricola is currently serving a life sentence in the Lotus Glen Correctional Centre for the 2014 murder of his friend, 42-year-old Robert Jamie Baartz.
He was found guilty at trial of an alcohol and drug-fuelled stabbing of Mr Baartz during a trip through Cape York.
During the four-day trial, it emerged the two men and a colleague and mate Brian Yoelu had been driving from Bamaga when an argument broke out between Bricola and Mr Baartz.
They had been drinking heavily and smoking cannabis the entire journey and consumed 60 cans of beer between them in a journey of about 9½ hours.
Justice Jim Henry labelled the incident as “complete misadventure between three guys that were otherwise friends” and said he doubted Bricola even remembered the fatal incident.
Ms Bower said Bricola committed an unforgivable crime for which he was in jail for.
“But that doesn’t mean we should ignore the crimes committed against him by his schoolteacher,” she said.
“It’s no surprise our client’s life has been marred by addiction and offending given the trauma he suffered at the hands of William Stokes at such a young age.”
Bricola is claiming general and aggravated damages, and for past and future economic loss in the sum of $388.111.85.
A defence is yet to be filed.
The Department of Education declined to comment as the matter is before the courts.
Originally published as Convicted murderer Carl Shane Bricola files childhood sexual abuse damages claim against Department of Education over former Mareeba State School teacher William Hollis Stokes
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