‘Thousands of pages’ of phone data sought in rape case
Prosecutors have hundreds more pages of phone data to review in a high-profile man's rape case. Photo: AAP
Prosecutors in the case of a high-profile man accused of rape have asked for more time to review “many thousands of pages” of mobile phone data.
The man, who remains on bail and cannot be named under Queensland law, faces two counts of raping a woman in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, in October 2021.
The case had a committal mention in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday as part of determining whether the matter will proceed to trial.
Prosecutor Nicole Friedewald told the court the Crown had received a download of six months of data from the alleged victim’s mobile phone in response to a request from the accused man’s legal representatives.
“Since our last mention we did receive the phone download … it does cover many thousands of pages and the prosecution is currently working its way through that material in order to satisfy disclosure obligations,” Ms Friedewald said.
Ms Friedewald said prosecutors had 800 pages left to review and sought a four-week adjournment to complete the analysis and decide on what could be disclosed to the defence.
Prosecutors had previously questioned the relevance of the six months of phone data requested by the defence as it covered a period before the accused man and alleged victim had met in person.
Magistrate Kyna Morice said the court was trying to set adjournments on a three, six or nine-week rotation so the matter would continue to be heard by the same magistrate.
The accused man’s solicitor, Rowan King, said he had no objection to a six-week adjournment and Ms Friedewald said she would accept that proposal.
Ms Morice adjourned the matter until November 1.
Queensland parliament this month passed legislation to remove the automatic prohibition on publicly naming people charged with rape.
The current naming ban extends to people charged with rape who have yet to be committed to trial.
Mr King has previously told the court he would seek an order to continue preventing media from naming his client once the new legislation came into effect early next month.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
– AAP
