High-profile man accused of Toowoomba rape will attempt to keep identity hidden

A high-profile man accused of raping a Toowoomba woman will attempt to keep his name out of the media, despite incoming new legislation.

The Toowoomba court house, police station, and watch house. Picture: Peta McEachern

The legal team of a high-profile man accused of rape intends to make an application to suppress the man’s identity, a court has heard.

Queensland’s current law prevents the identification of those charged with sexual assault until they are committed to stand trial – however there is a bill before parliament that may change the process.

The accused man, who currently cannot be named for legal reasons, has not appeared in court since the charges were first mentioned in January 2023.

At court on August 23, lawyer Rowan King said in anticipation to legislation changing, he sought a one week adjournment so he could make an application to suppress the man’s name.

“We intend to make an application to stop that,” he said.

Detectives from the Toowoomba Criminal Investigation Branch charged the man with two counts of rape in January. Picture: Peta McEachern

Magistrate Kay Philipson said it would be premature for the man’s legal team to make an application as legislation was yet to change.

Mr King claimed in court the complainant did not want the man named, following a failed bid from multiple media organisations.

Ms Philipson said she reviewed that application and had no recollection of the woman ever stating that, but she “may be mistaken”.

Mr King also said he was still waiting on two requests made to the Crown in relation to the woman’s phone downloads, which were from when the incident occurred and a period of time before the offence.

Lawyer Rowan King leaves Toowoomba CourtHouse. A high profile man has been charged with two counts of rape relating to an incident in October 2021. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Crown prosecutor Sarah Dreghorn said investigators agreed to handover to extensive downloads to the crown, and would do so later that day.

She said the Crown would needed to review 19 months’ worth of phone data, and consider what, and what not, they would release to the lawyers.

In regards to the future application to keep the man’s identity secret, Ms Dreghorn said as the bill was still before parliament they were not sure such an application could be made until it was passed.

Ms Philipson said she would not adjourn the case for one week as requested by Mr King, as it was not possible for the Crown to review the data in that time frame.

The man’s bail was enlarged and the case will next be mentioned on September 27.