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Alleged childcare paedophile Joshua Dale Brown likely to face more charges, court told Alleged childcare paedophile Joshua Dale Brown likely to face more charges, court told
(about 1 hour later)
Magistrate Donna Bakos granted an application by police for extra time to compile additional evidence against BrownMagistrate Donna Bakos granted an application by police for extra time to compile additional evidence against Brown
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Alleged childcare paedophile Joshua Dale Brown is likely to face extra charges, with a court granting police more time to investigate him.Alleged childcare paedophile Joshua Dale Brown is likely to face extra charges, with a court granting police more time to investigate him.
Brown’s next court appearance has now been pushed into 2026, with police requesting the magistrates court allow more time to compile evidence against him. Magistrate Donna Bakos on Tuesday approved a request by police for an extension in the matter of Brown and Michael Simon Wilson.
Magistrate Donna Bakos on Tuesday granted an application by police to extend the deadline to provide the hand-up brief of evidence to Brown’s lawyers to 4 December. The matter will then return to court for a committal mention on 10 February. The duo were next due to appear in court in September.
An extension was also provided in the matter of Brown’s co-accused, Michael Simon Wilson, who will next appear in court for a committal mention on 15 November. But instead, the hand-up brief of evidence against Brown will be provided to his lawyers by 4 December, with the matter due to return to court for a committal mention on 10 February.
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The accused men, who are both remanded in custody, were not required to appear in court for the brief administrative hearing.The accused men, who are both remanded in custody, were not required to appear in court for the brief administrative hearing.
The court heard an affidavit in support of the extension argued the investigation into the duo was ongoing. The extension was not contested by either of their lawyers.
Brown’s lawyer, Rishi Nathwani KC, said the affidavit also flagged the potential for “additional charges”. Brown, 26, was charged in May with more than 70 offences relating to eight alleged victims in his care, aged between five months and two years old.
Nathwani said charges against his client “are in flux”, with police now following a “vast number of other avenues that have now become apparent”.
He asked Bakos not to release the full list of charges to media in light of this, saying it would be “premature” and “hinder the realisation of natural justice”.
However, Bakos disagreed and said she would release the charges later on Tuesday to ensure fair and accurate reporting of the matter.
Brown, 26, was charged in May with more than 70 offences relating to eight alleged victims aged between five months and two years old.
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They include sexual penetration of a child under 12, attempted sexual penetration of a child under 12, sexual assault of a child under 16 and producing child abuse material for use through a carriage service.They include sexual penetration of a child under 12, attempted sexual penetration of a child under 12, sexual assault of a child under 16 and producing child abuse material for use through a carriage service.
His case was only made public on 1 July after a suppression order was lifted. Brown’s case was only made public on 1 July after a suppression order was lifted.
Wilson, 46, meanwhile, faces 45 charges including possessing child abuse material and rape and bestiality. It is understood Wilson’s alleged offending is not connected to childcare facilities or any of the children alleged to be victims in the Brown case.Wilson, 46, meanwhile, faces 45 charges including possessing child abuse material and rape and bestiality. It is understood Wilson’s alleged offending is not connected to childcare facilities or any of the children alleged to be victims in the Brown case.
It remains unclear how the duo know each other.
Both cases are in their early stages and neither Brown nor Wilson are yet to enter a plea.Both cases are in their early stages and neither Brown nor Wilson are yet to enter a plea.
Brown’s lawyer, Rishi Nathwani KC, fought a media application for the charges he faces to be made public.
He cited an affidavit provided by police in support of the extension, which said the investigation into the duo was ongoing and there was the potential for “additional charges”.
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Nathwani said charges against his client “are in flux” as a result, with police following a “vast number of other avenues that have now become apparent”.
“There will be more charges, may even be alteration [of exisiting charges],” he said.
“Given the high-profile nature already it would be terribly unfortunate if charges were released prematurely.”
Nathwani said the release of exisiting would be “premature”, “hinder the realisation of natural justice” and possibly “prejudice” a jury in a future trial “down the road”.
However, Bakos disagreed and said she would release the charges later on Tuesday.
“They are the charges before the court, they are the charges keeping each accused in custody, and that fair and accurate reporting at this stage requires the nature of the charges to be released,” she said.