Sick words to injured girl
The vile alleged treatment of a schoolgirl, allegedly sexually assaulted by a regional Queensland businessman, was laid bare in court as the man’s legal team made a bid to force police to hand over the child’s medical records.
The girl is one of the alleged victims of Wide Bay Burnett businessman Joe Prendergast, who was charged in June 2023 with 11 counts of rape, sexual assault, and the indecent treatment of children.
Mr Prendergast has not entered any pleas and was not in court when his case was mentioned on Wednesday. The court heard more alleged victims came forward to police after the media named Mr Prendergast after a legislation change in October 2023.
Mr Prendergast is the managing director of a boutique accommodation and winery at Moffatdale called the Dusty Hill Vineyard, which was granted more than $1m by the state government’s Growing Tourism Infrastructure Fund. His company Dusty Joe’s Pty Ltd also operates a hotel and bakery in Goomeri.
At Murgon Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Mr Prendergast’s legal team formally requested magistrate Andrew Sinclair order police to disclose information investigators had refused to hand over.
Some of the documents requested by Mr Prendergast’s lawyers related to a separate incident at one of the businessman’s properties, which did not form part of the police prosecution’s case and did not result in any charges against Mr Prendergast. The court heard after the schoolgirl was at Mr Prendergast’s property, she was injured in an activity.
Her injuries were allegedly serious enough to cause her to fall in and out of consciousness, however, an ambulance was not called.
The court heard that while Mr Prendergast’s wife tended to cuts on the girl’s chest, she asked him to leave the room before removing the girl’s clothing.
Mr Prendergast’s wife is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Mr Prendergast was alleged to have refused, stating, “no, I want to see your tits”. The court heard that rather than taking the girl to hospital, she was given more alcohol by a different person.
A day or so later, the court heard the girl was taken to a doctor, who called an ambulance, and she was rushed to hospital with broken bones and internal bleeding.
Police prosecutor Barry Stevens said the child’s medical records from her injuries and the photos taken of her injuries were not evidence in the case, and police believed the child was entitled to her fundamental right to privacy.
Barrister Joshua Jones accused investigators of “cherry picking” the evidence they shared and said that the material pertaining to the injuries was relevant because it was mentioned by witnesses in the case.
Mr Sinclair adjourned his ruling on the disclosure application to May 7, but indicated he would approve some of the lawyer’s request.
Mr Prendergast did not attend proceedings, and he was excused from attending court when the matter is next mentioned before Murgon Magistrates Court on May 15.