Case of accused sex assaulting Avalon psychologist killed by truck back in court

THE case of a prominent psychologist, who died before facing court on charges of sexually assaulting three female patients during appointments at a northern beaches clinic a decade ago, was back in Manly Court today.

Psychologist Pieter Jozua Rossouw leaves the police watch-house in Brisbane on 30 January after appearing in court on historic sexual assault charges. Picture: Dan Peled

• Accused sex assaulting Avalon psychologist killed by truck

THE case of a prominent psychologist who was killed by a truck before facing court on charges of sexually assaulting three female patients during appointments at a northern beaches clinic a decade ago was back in Manly Local Court on Friday.

Pieter Jozua Rossouw, 62, who was facing 13 indecent and sexual assault charges stretching back to 2004, was hit by a B-double in Queensland on February 2.

Rossouw had appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court three days earlier, on January 30, after police from the Northern Beaches Local Area Command issued a warrant for his arrest.

Psychologist Pieter Jozua Rossouw leaves the police watch-house in Brisbane on 30 January.

His lawyer told the Brisbane court that Rossouw denied the allegations.

Rossouw was arrested by Queensland Police at his home in Brisbane. The charges related to allegations he repeatedly assaulted a 17-year-old female patient while he was employed as a psychologist at a private clinic in Avalon in 2004.

Two other female patients, aged in their 30s and 40s, also told police in 2009 that Rossouw had allegedly assaulted them during sessions at the clinic.

Rossouw was facing 13 charges of aggravated indecent assault, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated incite act of indecency.

He was struck by a truck on the Bruce Highway near Gympie, about 185km north of Brisbane, at 10.15pm on February 2. The psychologist’s car was found nearby.

Queensland police investigated the death and prepared a report for the Queensland Coroner.

Manly Magistrate Christopher Longley said on Friday that the “passing” of Rossouw was still the subject of a coronial inquiry in Queensland.

A promotional image of Pieter Jozua Rossouw.

Mr Longley said the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had indicated to NSW Police prosecutors at Manly not to withdraw the charges against Rossouw “at this stage”.

The matter was adjourned to Manly Local Court, for mention, on April 18.

On January 30, AAP reported that Queensland police prosecutor Matt Kahler told Brisbane Magistrates Court that Rossouw was charged with offences that carried a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail.

“The victims at the time were very distraught,” Sgt Kahler told the court. “They trusted him and he abused that trust.”

Sgt Kahler said Rossouw was still a registered psychologist at the time of his arrest.

But defence lawyer Craig Pratt said in court that his client had not practised since 2009, was “somewhat retired” and now only held workshops for professionals in the field.

“He is an academic with a distinguished career,” he said.

Mr Pratt told the court Rossouw denied the allegations and would fight them.

NSW police officers appeared in court in an attempt to extradite Rossouw, who had been living in Queensland for eight years, back to Manly.

Manly Local Court.

But magistrate Paul Kluck agreed to release him on bail on the proviso he report to police daily, surrender his Australian and South African passports and live at his home at St Lucia.

Mr Kluck also ordered that Rossouw appear at Manly Local Court on January 5.

When it was learned Rossouw was deceased, police asked Mr Longley to adjourn the mater until February 16.

Any person on the northern beaches who had dealings with Pieter Rossouw can contact the Manly Daily via email at [e-mail]