A woman who appeared on a well known Channel Seven television show will stand trial after being accused of child abuse offences, rape and assault.
The Channel Seven identity and her partner, both who are unable to be named for legal reasons, were charged in 2023 and appeared at Richlands Magistrates Court, south-west of Brisbane, on Wednesday.
Magistrate Stuart Shearer dismissed more than 50 of 70 total offences that covered a period from 2005 to 2023, saying the evidence was ‘weak’.
He ordered the woman stand trial for 12 offences, including one count of rape, unlawful assault and indecent treatment, as reported The Sydney Morning Herald.
The woman, who was supported by friends and family at the courthouse, replied ‘No, your honour’ and wiped away tears when asked if she had anything to say.
She will appear in Brisbane District Court at a later date.
Magistrate Shearer found there was enough evidence for another 12 lesser charges against the woman which will be heard in Richlands Magistrates Court, including common assault and observation in breach of privacy.
The woman’s partner will front the same court on April 30 over 11 offences.
The pair appeared on a prominent Channel Seven TV show with the charges stretching back more than two decades (pictured, Seven offices in Melbourne)
The pair were first charged in 2023 with more than 70 offences allegedly committed at multiple locations across Queensland but many have been dropped.
Two torture charges against the man were dropped in November with the prosecution conceding there was not enough evidence to proceed.
Magistrate Shearer previously criticised the police prosecutor’s handling of the case as he dismissed some charges, saying he would not amend them to ‘fix your case’.
He told the court he would not be hearing the cases that will appear before the Richlands Magistrates Court because he had already formed a view ‘about the reliability and credibility of witnesses’.
The pair declined to comment to media outside the court.
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