PNG child rape-accused to wear tracker
Cheryl Goodenough |
A woman from Papua New Guinea accused of raping a child in Brisbane will continue wearing a tracking device after arguing it is “inconvenient” in summer.
Kathleen Ipi Johnson was in a de-facto relationship with Jeffrey Kennedy when the pair allegedly committed offences against a child at Fortitude Valley, Brisbane in 2019.
Johnson, 47, applied in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday for the removal of a bail condition requiring her to wear a GPS tracking device.
The 38-year-old Kennedy is a former University of PNG chancellor who owns businesses in Port Moresby, according to PNG’s The National newspaper.
Kennedy was charged in November 2019 after he attempted to board a flight to Cairns from where he was due to fly to PNG.
Johnson’s lawyer provided to the court photos of an abrasion to Johnson’s ankle from the device, argued it was “more inconvenient during the summer months” and needed charging which impacted on her day-to-day routines.
“I suppose it would be less of an inconvenience if she went into custody, would it?” Justice David Boddice said.
“Then she wouldn’t have to wear it.”
The order to wear the tracker was among a “suite of conditions” imposed in December 2019 to eliminate the risk of contact with the complainant, Justice Boddice said in refusing Johnson’s request.
“I am satisfied the GPS tracking device is not more onerous than is necessary,” he added, saying she was accused of sexual offending over an extended period of time.
Johnson first applied unsuccessfully to remove the tracker in November 2020.
Kennedy and Johnson are facing one count each of rape, indecent treatment of a child under 12 and maintaining an unlawful relationship with a child.
They are due to face a pre-trial hearing in the Brisbane District Court on Monday.
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