‘Fight, flight or freeze’: Alleged child rapist’s trial continues in Gympie District Court

Jury hears of the reactions of victims in third day of the trial of a Gympie grandfather accused of raping and molesting two girls in his care

Family members of the 61-year-old Gympie region grandfather accused of raping and molesting two young girls walked in and out of the Gympie District Court on Thursday while his alleged crimes were repeated to the jury.

Family members of the 61-year-old Gympie region grandfather accused of raping and molesting two young girls walked in and out of the Gympie District Court on Thursday while his alleged crimes were repeated to the jury.

The man is on trial for seven alleged offences, including two counts of rape and five counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 in his care.

Before day three of the trial began on Thursday, the man turned around in the dock and waved to four people in the gallery, who waved back.

Crown Prosecutor Stephanie Gallagher and the defence lawyer Jason Todman spent the day summing up their evidence for the jury.

Ms Gallagher went first, telling jury that believing the evidence of the two alleged victims was enough to convict the 61-year-old.

She noted the level of detail in the victims’ evidence, which she said was too descriptive to dismiss as fabrication.

“We know some people fight, we know some people flight, and we know some people freeze,” she said.

One of the alleged victims did not come forth immediately because she was embarrassed and worried about not being taken seriously, Ms Gallagher told the court.

“She said she didn’t really know how to tell her mum,” she said.

“And she said she didn’t say anything when it was happening because she didn’t want anyone to think she was lying.”

When Ms Gallagher began mentioning the rape charges and the level of detail associated with the allegations, one member of the gallery stood up and walked out.

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Ms Gallagher mentioned an alleged incident where one of the victims took inappropriate photos of the defendant’s daughter on Snapchat, which she said the defence would cite as a reason to discredit one of the victim’s accusations.

Family members of the 61-year-old Gympie region grandfather accused of raping and molesting two young girls walked in and out of the Gympie District Court on Thursday while his alleged crimes were repeated to the jury.

Next to address the jury was Mr Todman, who began by rebutting the allegations, saying they never happened.

“Think about some of the things she said,” he said in relation to one of the victim’s testimonies.

“What can we rely on?”

Mr Todman addressed the snapchat incident, which he said was the catalyst behind the allegations against his 61-year-old client.

He said when the defendant heard about the alleged photo of his granddaughter, he threatened to go to the police about it.

“After the threat was made ... that’s when the allegations came out about (my client),” he said.

He noted that the defendant had not given evidence, which was his own choice, and also maintained his innocence.

He also made reference to the lack of forensic evidence, stating the allegations were essentially a ‘he said/she said’ situation.

The trial continues in Gympie District Court on Friday, May 7.

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Originally published as ‘Fight, flight or freeze’: Alleged child rapist’s trial continues in Gympie District Court