Lawyers reveal next step for high-profile man charged with rape
Lawyers for a high-profile man charged with rape have revealed the next step they will be taking before a court.
Lawyers for a high-profile man charged with rape could apply to cross-examine witnesses who will give evidence in the proceedings against their client, a Queensland court has been told.
The man was not required to appear before Toowoomba Magistrates Court when his matter was briefly mentioned on Wednesday morning.
He is facing two counts of rape stemming from an alleged incident in Toowoomba in October 2021.
Due to strict regulations surrounding the identification of people charged with rape or sexual offences in Queensland, the man cannot be named.
On Monday, lawyer Rowan King appeared for the man over the phone and asked for a three-week adjournment.
The court was told a brief of evidence had been disclosed, but Mr King said a further request for disclosure would be coming in the afternoon.
“If there’s any applications that need to be made, we can make those applications while there are further disclosures coming in,” Mr King said.
He told the court there was “potential” for witnesses to be cross-examined during his client’s committal phase.
But Mr King said that would turn on the potential of a report he was seeking for his client.
“It is a matter where there could be a request for cross-examination during committal,” he said.
Nicole Friedewald, acting for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said four weeks would be more appropriate due to the time needed to process the material.
The man, who is on bail, was excused from appearing at the next court date on May 17.
Toowoomba Criminal Investigation Branch detectives charged the man earlier this year with the alleged rape of a young woman in October 2021.
Earlier this year several media organisations, including News Corp Australia, applied to the court seeking permission to name the man in the proceedings.
That application remains before the courts.
Last year, the second Hear Her Voice report, which highlighted the experiences of women and girls across the criminal justice system, was handed down.
Of the 188 recommendations made, one included the ability to name people charged with sexual offences in Queensland.
The report states this decision would bring Queensland into line with other states and jurisdictions.
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