No bail for doc on rape charges

A DOCTOR facing rape charges has been refused bail.

The doctor, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested on March 24 and charged with eight counts of rape, as well as attempting to pervert the course of justice.

It will be alleged one count of rape was committed against a patient in 2012.

The doctor faces a total 25 charges before the court, 13 of which he was already on bail for when the fresh charges were laid.

His charges include eight counts of rape, two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm, five counts of breach of bail conditions, four counts of common assault, taking reprisal, threatening violence and wilful damage.

A bail application was made in the Townsville Magistrates Court last week but Magistrate Scott Luxton reserved his decision until yesterday afternoon.

Magistrate Luxton said there was an unacceptable risk that the doctor would commit further breach of bail conditions.

He said he noted the timing of the complaints relating to the older charges.

“With respect of the charge alleged to have occurred in December 2012, I note that the complaint differs to that made previously to medical authorities,” he said.

“I accept that the issues of previous complaints, the timing of them and the differing versions of them are matters that are likely pursued in future proceedings.

“I also accept that each of the complainants’ credibility with respect to those matters will be in contest in future proceedings.”

But Mr Luxton said in making his decision he had to consider the more recent charges.

“The charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice was protracted offending behaviour over a period of some four months,” he said.

“Three of the breaches of bail condition related to prohibited contact with a complainant and one of the breach of bail conditions relates to not residing at the address required for bail.

“The defendant’s conduct while subject to that bail, of which the evidence is strong, would lead me to conclude he would have no ability or capacity in my view to comply with the more onerous conditions of bail proposed in this bail application.”

The doctor is next expected to appear in Townsville Magistrates Court on June 7.