February 21, 2013
In Kingaroy Magistrates Court today:
A Booie man who was the subject of a large police search near Kingaroy in January has been granted bail with strict conditions, including that he not return to the South Burnett Regional Council area.
Curtis Dale Hayden, who has been held in custody since his arrest, has entered no plea to six charges which include threatening violence, dangerous conduct with a weapon and assault.
Hayden was not present in court today because of a mix-up in a jail transfer however he was represented by solicitor Dan Rogers, from Brisbane firm Robertson O’Gorman, via telephone.
Police Prosecutor Sgt Nick Nitschke opposed the bail application because of the serious nature of the offences with which Hayden has been charged and “the risk he poses”.
But Mr Rogers said the matter was likely to go to summary trial and the risk was that Hayden could spend months in custody awaiting a court date.
He submitted the Crown case was weak and Hayden could spend more time in custody awaiting trial than if he was convicted.
“And I stress ‘if’,” Mr Rogers said.
Magistrate Mark Bucknall said the matter had attracted “some interest” but that was no reason why the law should not be followed.
He said police agreed Hayden was not a risk of failing to appear, and there was nothing to indicate he would not comply with any bail conditions.
Mr Bucknall said the complainant was a family member “not a random member of the public” and there was nothing to indicate Hayden was a risk to the general public.
Conditions could be set which would mitigate the risk to any family members, he said.
“No grant of bail is risk-free,” Mr Bucknall said.
The magistrate said he would not be swayed by publicity about the matter.
He ordered that Hayden report weekly to Maryborough Police Station, not contact or approach the complainant, or enter the South Burnett Regional Council area.
The charges were adjourned to March 28.
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A 17-year-old youth charged with stealing from his employer, a South Burnett freight delivery company, pleaded guilty in Kingaroy Magistrates’ Court today.
Harrison James Scott was fined $2000 and ordered to pay $2806.50 restitution.
No conviction was recorded.
A second man charged with stealing from the same employer was remanded on bail to March 7.
Crowther Davidson Bedow entered no plea.
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A woman charged with 87 counts of fraud (gaining a benefit as an employee) has been remanded on bail to March 7.
Solicitor Libby Daniels said Susan Jane Wolski would seek a committal hearing and an application could be made to cross-examine witnesses.
The charges were adjourned to March 7.
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A man who broke free from a police officer who was trying to arrest him pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody.
Police were trying to execute a “return to prison” warrant on Marcus Lee Braithwaite after he breached his parole conditions by testing positive to methamphetamine.
A police office spotted Braithwaite in a car in Kingaroy Street. He confirmed his identity and grasped the front of his shirt but Braithwaite pushed away and fled the scene. Extensive patrols failed to locate him.
When he was finally arrested he was returned to prison where he served the remaining five months of his original sentence.
Mr Mark Werner, for Braithwaite, said his client had been released from jail on January 4 and had since gained employment on a peanut farm.
Magistrate Mark Bucknall sentenced him to two months’ jail but set an immediate parole release date.
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In Murgon Magistrates Court on Tuesday:
Charges against a Tewantin man over fires in the Durong area have been adjourned again in Murgon Magistrates’ Court.
Clinton Nicholas Pascoe faces 10 counts of lighting unauthorised fires.
He was remanded on bail to re-appear in Murgon Court on March 5.
