Joe Prendergast sexual assault case heard in court

Police have revealed that one of the alleged victim’s in the multiple rape and sexual assault charges against Gympie and Burnett businessman Joe Prendergast has made a fresh complaint, which is now under investigation.

A witness was unable to be contacted ahead of the latest hearing in the rape and sexual assault case against prominent Wide Bay Burnett businessman Joe Prendergast, Murgon Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday.

A witness was unable to be contacted ahead of the latest hearing in the rape and sexual assault case against prominent Wide Bay Burnett businessman Joe Prendergast, Murgon Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday.

The arresting police officer in the case has been ordered to give evidence and be cross examined at the next hearing on May 1, 2024.

The court was also told that one of the alleged victims in the case had come forward with a “fresh complaint”, which was now under investigation.

Mr Prendergast is managing director of Dusty Joe’s Pty Ltd, which operates the Dusty Hill Vineyard in Moffatdale, Joe’s Grand Hotel in Goomeri and The Goomeri Bakery.

He is charged with 11 counts of rape and other sexual assault offences, alleged to have been committed over six years against a woman and an underage girl.

Dusty Hill Estate, Joe Prendergast with some of his wines.

He has not entered any pleas and was not in court in person on April 10.

In a previous hearing in January in the Murgon Court, magistrate Andrew Sinclair ordered 17 items of outstanding evidence requested by the defence, including audio and video recordings with anything outstanding to be mentioned at Wednesday’s hearing.

Mr Sinclair has been overseeing the case but was away on Wednesday, and replaced by Anna Smith.

Police prosecutor Barry Stevens told Ms Smith there were “about three or four” pieces of evidence they were declining to provide the defence.

When going through the list of outstanding evidence sought by the defence, Sgt Stevens made a comment about one of the alleged victims without naming what the evidence being sought was.

“We refuse to do that because she’s now come forward with a fresh complaint so there’s another investigation occurring to that,” he said.

It was unclear if this was related to Mr Prendergast’s matters or something separate.

Another piece of evidence relating to a witness was also mentioned by Sgt Stevens.

“We don’t know where (the witness) is, we think she’s (interstate) somewhere,” he said.

Sgt Stevens also said he had received new information regarding summons from the defence to various departments.

“Apparently, a summons has been served to the Department of Education, the Department of Child Safety, Medicare and Telstra,” he said.

Ms Smith said it was likely a summons to produce documentation from the departments.

“They are after Medicare records relating to, I’m assuming … the complainants,” Ms Smith said.

Joe Prendergast

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Ms Smith said all outstanding evidence would be argued during next hearing and the summons sought by the defence was granted.

She also ordered the arresting officer appear to give evidence and be cross examined.

In June 2023, following investigations by the Murgon police, Mr Prendergast was charged with 11 counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, two counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 and one attempted indecent assault of a child under 16.

The first complainant, a woman in her 30s, was allegedly sexually assaulted by Mr Prendergast between September 2017 and January 2020.

The second complainant was allegedly sexually assaulted and inappropriately touched between December 25, 2022, and February 26, 2023 while she was under 16.

The application hearing will be at 10am at Murgon Magistrates Court on May 1, 2024.

Originally published as Joe Prendergast sexual assault case heard in court