Ipswich court hears rape allegations in gunpoint carjacking case

A southeast Queensland courtroom descended into emotional uproar as a woman arrested over a gunpoint carjacking told the court her alleged victim had raped her.

A southeast Queensland courtroom descended into emotional uproar as a woman arrested over a gunpoint carjacking told the court her alleged victim had raped her.

A woman accused of taking a man’s car at gunpoint earlier this week has begged a southeast Queensland court to grant her bail, accusing her alleged victim of raping her.

The woman, in her 20s, was arrested this week and charged with unlawful use of motor a motor vehicle and receiving tainted property.

She fronted Ipswich Magistrates’ Court yesterday, December 7, to apply for bail.

Police prosecutor Marjorie Bridger said police would allege the woman took a man’s car at gunpoint in Ipswich earlier this week.

But she noted there were no charges against the woman relating to a gun at this stage.

Senior Constable Bridger said the case against the woman was strong.

The woman had been tracked by a dog squad and found hiding from police with the man’s car keys in her hand, she said.

Defence lawyer Paddy O’Donnell said his client had given him a very different version of events.

He said she alleged she had been raped by the man in the same car she was alleged to have held up.

The woman had told Mr O’Donnell she’d met the man earlier this week at a convenience store.

Then two days later, she had gone to a location in Ipswich to meet a different man, who she says didn’t show up.

She alleged she was taken by two men to an abandoned home and held there.

At another stage, Mr O’Donnell said his client was driven around an Ipswich neighbourhood “screaming for neighbours to hear”.

“She said she feared for her life,” Mr O’Donnell said.

The court heard the woman had been taken to hospital for examination earlier this week, on the same day she alleges she was raped.

Senior Constable Bridger said police were investigating the woman’s claims but had no evidence at this stage to support what she was saying.

She said the prosecution opposed the woman’s bail application because she had a history of dishonesty offending and had been on bail at the time for 10 outstanding matters.

She acknowledged the woman’s allegations were very serious, but said they did not marry up with the way police found her.

Magistrate Dennis Kinsella said he had difficulty accepting the woman’s version of events at this stage due to a lack of evidence.

If he were to proceed with the bail application at that stage, he said he would not be able to grant her bail.

But Mr Kinsella said he would wait for further evidence before continuing with the application.

“It’s in your interest for you to have an opportunity to get more information,” he told the woman.

“I’m trying to give you as much justice as possible.”

The woman, who had been sobbing throughout the entire proceedings, spoke up at this stage.

“I didn’t do this, I didn’t do it,” she yelled out via videolink from the Ipswich watch-house.

“If you let me go home tomorrow I can get the video footage and photos and everything.”

After multiple failed attempts by Mr O’Donnell to ask his client not to interject in proceedings, Mr Kinsella enquired about the woman’s mental health.

Her mother, who attended court to support her, instructed that her daughter suffered from bipolar disorder.

Mr Kinsella ordered a mental health assessment, afterwhich the woman’s mother yelled: “She has been raped, she’s not mentally ill”.

She left the court, slamming the door loudly behind her, before returning to apologise a few minutes later.

“I’m so sorry your honour, that’s my daughter,” she said.

Mr Kinsella said he understood.

“She’s safe where she is … I’m trying to give her the best shot possible of getting bail,” he explained.

“I take allegations of rape very seriously.”

He said he needed to balance out the seriousness of the woman’s allegations with other factors in his bail decision.

He reassured the mother that a mental health order may assist her daughter under the circumstances regardless.

The matter was adjourned to December 11, 2023, for further evidence from the hospital.

Originally published as Ipswich court hears rape allegations in gunpoint carjacking case