Toowoomba court: High profile man charged with rape makes bid to keep identity secret

Today an application will be made in Toowoomba Magistrates Court to keep the name of a high-profile man who allegedly raped a Toowoomba woman hidden.

The lawyer of the high-profile man who allegedly raped a Toowoomba woman is making an application to the court to keep the man’s identity hidden.

At the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday morning, October 13, magistrate Clare Kelly said the application would be heard later in the day.

Barrister Andrew Hoare asked Ms Kelly to consider closing the court during the application as his client wished for his psychiatrist reports to remain private, which was not opposed by the prosecution.

Ms Kelly said they would revisit the closure of the court during the application hearing.

The case was scheduled to be heard in the morning, and Ms Kelly expressed disappointment over the delay which was caused by media organisations sending through affidavits late last night.

All parties are currently reading through that material which details why the media believed the man should be named alongside every other alleged rapist following the new law change.

Earlier this month new laws came into effect allowing adults charged with rape, attempted rape and sexual assault to be named.

Under the changes accused sexual offenders would be publicly identified unless they successfully seek a non-publication order, bringing Queensland in line with all jurisdictions except the Northern Territory.