Overview
- The Queensland Supreme Court suspended the planned arraignment and adjourned the case to February 12, 2026 for an update on Mental Health Court progress, with Uiatu “Joan” Taufua remanded in custody.
- Defence counsel said a psychiatric report received and disclosed the day before court supports a possible Section 27 unsoundness-of-mind defence and sought immediate referral.
- Crown prosecutor Dejana Kovac criticised the late disclosure and said the prolonged process has been unfair to the families of the deceased.
- Police allege Taufua was fleeing officers before a December 30, 2022 head-on crash at Bonogin that killed Chris Fawcett, 79, Susan Zimmer, 70, and Steffanie Zimmer, 35; Taufua survived.
- The matter has faced lengthy delays tied to psychiatric assessments and digital evidence requests, and Taufua was on parole for an earlier assault conviction at the time of the crash.