Magistrate’s son accused of rape, child sexual abuse to face trial

A Queensland magistrate’s son charged with rape and child abuse offences has been committed to stand trial over more than 120 charges.

Cooper Mitchell Bamberry faced a committal hearing in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday, where a witness gave evidence in closed court.

The charges include five counts of rape, as well as sexual assault, carnal knowledge with children, involving a child in the making of child exploitation material, grooming a child, indecent treatment of a child, sexual assaults and unlawful stalking.

Of his 129 charges, 45 relate to using the internet to procure children under 16.

Bamberry also faces 29 charges relating to the indecent treatment of a child.

Some of the charges allegedly relate to filming.

He also faces a charge of threatening to distribute an intimate image or prohibited visual recording.

The accused is the son of magistrate Mark Bamberry, who was appointed to the position in 2022.

The Helensvale resident was 22 when he was charged last year after police raided his property, where investigators seized electronic devices.

The arrest came as a result of a public appeal and investigations, police said at the time.

The court heard before the witness gave evidence to the closed court from a remote room that the person was not an affected child witness.

Bamberry, who was in custody, wore a suit for the hearing, and was represented by lawyer Adam Guest.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Stephen Courtney committed Bamberry to stand trial in the District Court at a later date.

When asked if he had anything to say, Bamberry replied: “No, thank you, your honour.”