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‘High profile’ alleged Toowoomba rapist gets more time to access victim’s phone data

A high-profile man accused of rape may know in days whether he will be able to access months of data from his alleged victim’s mobile phone, a court has heard.

Aug 09, 2023, updated Aug 09, 2023
Toowoomba Courthouse. (AAP Image/Darren England)

Toowoomba Courthouse. (AAP Image/Darren England)

The latest in a string of committal mentions took place in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial.

The high-profile man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces two charges of raping a woman in October 2021.

Prosecutors had previously agreed to multiple adjournments in line with the accused’s request for a forensic medical report and a download of data from the complainant’s phone.

A medical report has since been supplied but crown prosecutor Sarah Dreghorn told the court on Wednesday they are still negotiating over mobile phone data access.

The court heard at the previous mention last month the defence would request data “six months prior to the event’s date”.

Ms Dreghorn said the defence’s request for “parts of the complainant’s phone download” had been received two weeks ago.

“My principal replied … asking for an articulation why the material was disclosable,” she said.

They received the defence’s submission on why they needed the phone data last week, she said.

Ms Dreghorn said the request was still being considered by her office but they should have a response for the defence “within a week”.

The man’s solicitor Rowan King said of the phone data access at the last mention: “Ultimately, those communications appear quite important to the defence’s case.”

Mr King has previously requested access to material from the complainant’s phone obtained via the forensic system used by police to extract and analyse the contents of digital devices.

Magistrate Louise Shephard has adjourned the matter until August 23.

The man – who remains on bail – was not required to appear.

 

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