Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Qld man accused of torture denied bail
A Queensland man facing torture and robbery charges faces a potential five years in pre-trial custody due to his risk of reoffending.
September 25, 2018
A Queensland man who has spent more than 1200 days in custody awaiting trial for torture, robbery and retaliation against a witness has lost a bid for bail because he might re-offend.
Ian Ronald Crowden, 43, also learned he might have to spend another two years in pre-trial custody when his bail application was rejected on Tuesday by Brisbane magistrate Anthony Gett.
“He has seen his relationship crumble and he has been away from his children,” Mr Gett said.
“And in my view has quite extraordinarily served a substantial length in pre-sentence custody prior to committal.”
However, Mr Gett denied the father of three’s bid for freedom, noting the defendant’s retaliation against a witness.
“The risk of re-offending in my view is substantial. The interfering with witnesses and the perverting the course of justice is also substantial,” he said.
Crowden faces 25 charges, including extortion, arson, deprivation of liberty and trafficking in drugs for offences alleged to have occurred in 2014 and 2015.
The case will return to court on November 2.