Torture case

A CAIRNS man accused of torture and rape over allegedly holding a British backpacker hostage during a road trip through regional Queensland will be arraigned on Friday. Matters against Marcus Allyn Keith Martin had previously been listed for trial in the Cairns District Court this month. The charges relate to alleged incidents in February and March last year. It is alleged the accused held a 22year-old woman, who he allegedly met in Cairns, against her will.

Girl on stab count

A GIRL has been charged with one count of wounding and two counts of contravention of an order. The 16-year-old Flying Fish Point girl was arguing with a 16year-old boy known to her at an Elizabeth St, Flying Fish Point home about 1.30pm on Saturday. Police will allege that she stabbed the boy in his left thigh with a fishing knife. The girl will face Innisfail Magistrates Court.

Dementia support

DEMENTIA Australia holds a free family carer education course in Cairns tomorrow. To register for the course or for details on location and time, call Dementia Australia 1800 100 500 or email qld.services@dementia.org.au

Pair give it a shake

PEACE Lutheran College students Emma McMullen and Holly Cummings will head to Brisbane this week to compete in the state finals of the 2018 Queensland Youth Shakespeare Festival (Shake Fest). The pair won the regional competition recently. Shake Fest offers Queensland drama students the opportunity to express their talent, using works from William Shakespeare.

Sports labs to open

CQUniversity Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman will officially open Cairns’ new exercise and sport sciences laboratories on Friday. The labs are part of the $54.7 million CQUniversity Cairns Community Impact Plan which comprises five new industry kickstarter projects centred around a much larger, permanent campus base capable of accommodating more than 2500 local and international students in the heart of the Cairns CBD.