Semius Donnelly, Waylan Satrick denied bail in alleged Cairns abduction case

A teenager was allegedly kidnapped for two days, tortured and forced to write apology notes, because she had sex with a woman’s former partner, a court has heard.

A 19-year-old Cairns woman was allegedly kidnapped for two days, forced to write apology notes, blindfolded, manhandled and left in a bloody condition because she had sex with a woman’s former partner, a court has heard.

Semius Donnelly, 23 of Freshwater, has been charged with deprivation of liberty, torture, threats and three counts of common assault.

He was arrested on June 16, is yet to indicate a plea but has been refused bail.

Police allege a 19-year-old Westcourt woman was kidnapped from a Cairns North street on Friday, June 13, and held captive for two days, where she was assaulted multiple times, including with a baseball bat, threatened with what she belived was a gun and had her head shaved.

Mr Donnelly’s lawyer, Jacqui O’Reilly, made an application for bail on Wednesday morning but police prosecutor Joseph Kurtin opposed the application, saying the man posed an unacceptable risk to the complainant.

He said Donnelly was a willing and active participant.

“The facts are he held a gel blaster up to her face to cause fear,” he said.

“He is also notably aware that someone has put out a missing persons report and told her ‘that’s going to be a predicament’.

“The victim noted that she was too scared to give the police his name.”

Mr Kurtin said the man was also at risk of absconding in the face of a strong prosecution case with CCTV, and data taken from his phone including photographs and conversations with the co-accused.

Defence Ms O’Reilly argued it was clear Mr Donnelly was not the “principle offender” and the alleged dispute was between the female co-offender identified as 34-year-old Kaidii Dayl Ephraums, who was charged on Sunday with 14 offences.

“This has arisen out of a situation he wasn’t aware of involving a grievance or dispute,” she said.

A Freshwater man has been refused bail after being accused of threatening an allegedly kidnapped 19-year-old with a gel blaster when she was held at his home against her will over claims she slept with a woman’s former partner.

She said there were discrepancies and scope for an alternative story to be presented in his defence.

She conceded the woman was brought to his address and was at his residence for some time where she was “allowed to shower and was fed”, but he did not accompany the co-accused and the complainant when they left his home.

Ms O’Reilly said the 23-year-old had a limited criminal history and resided with his mother.

Magistrate Terrence Browne denied the bail application, noting that a weapon was allegedly used to “menace” the victim.

“A gel blaster that looks like a real weapon and of course the victim was not to know either way,” he said.

“The objection to bail states the defendant forced the victim to write apology notes.

“She was in a bloodied condition. At times she was blindfolded and manhandled and she was threatened with this weapon.”

He identified the co-offender was accused of abducting the victim after concerns the victim had had relations with her former partner.

Mr Donnelly’s application was denied.

A third man, Waylan Satrick, has been charged with three counts of common assault, two counts of breach of bail and one count each of assaults occasioning bodily harm, and deprivation of liberty.

His bail application was also refused.

The court heard that Mr Satrick was present in the car when the teenager was originally abducted and was present while she was beaten with a baseball bat and had her head shaved.

His defence counsel argued that he was dropped off before a number of the offences occured.

He will next appear on June 26.

 

Originally published as Semius Donnelly, Waylan Satrick denied bail in alleged Cairns abduction case