Latest news with #RishiNathwani
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Major update in alleged childcare daycare abuse case - as police gather evidence against worker
A childcare worker accused of abusing eight children will next face court in 2026 following an application from prosecutors. Accused pedophile Joshua Dale Brown won't face court again until next year, after a magistrate gave police more time to gather evidence against him. The childcare worker did not appear for a brief hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, when prosecutors applied to extend his committal mention date. Brown was in May charged with more than 70 offences relating to the alleged abuse of eight children in his care. The 26-year-old worked at 20 childcare centres across Melbourne between January 2017 and May 2025, Victoria Police say. Magistrate Donna Bakos on Tuesday allowed the police to serve the brief of evidence to the defence by December 4, with Brown's next court date listed for February 10. She accepted that detectives needed more time for their investigation and that it was likely more charges would be laid. Brown's barrister, Rishi Nathwani KC, did not oppose the application, telling the court he would need time to consider the material as well. He did fight against charge sheets being released to the media, arguing it was too early given the investigation was ongoing. 'Given the high-profile nature already, it would be terribly unfortunate if charges were released prematurely,' Mr Nathwani told the court. But Ms Bakos noted the charges were on the public record and she was not prepared to restrict access. 'Fair and accurate reporting at this stage requires the nature of the charges to be released,' she said.
ABC News
22-07-2025
- ABC News
Fresh charges expected for former childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown
An alleged childcare paedophile accused of scores of child sex offences is expected to be hit with "further charges", according to his legal team. On Tuesday, lawyers for Joshua Dale Brown appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court, where he is accused of abusing eight children while working as a childcare educator at Creative Garden Early Learning in Point Cook, in Melbourne's western suburbs. The 26-year-old is facing more than 70 charges including sexually penetrating children, sexual activity in the presence of a child and contaminating food. Rishi Nathwani KC, who is representing Mr Brown, told the court the charges against his client were "in flux". "The informant said there will be more charges," Mr Nathwani said, as he asked the court not to release charge sheets to the media. "It would hinder the realisation of natural justice in his case and prejudice the administration of justice at this stage. "I'd ask your honour to resist it and not grant it at this stage." But Magistrate Donna Bakos disagreed. "The thing about your application Mr Nathwani is that the charges are effectively a matter of public record," she said. "I'm not prepared to restrict access. "They are the charges before the court." Mr Brown was due to return to court in September but during a brief administrative hearing today, that date was changed to early February. He is now believed to have worked at 24 childcare centres over his career and his alleged offences have sparked a massive public health response, with authorities urging more than 2,000 children to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases as a precaution. Mr Brown was arrested after police started investigating another man, Michael Simon Wilson, for the alleged rape of a teenage boy at Hoppers Crossing, also in Melbourne's western suburbs. The ABC understands detectives who examined Mr Wilson's devices discovered material linking him to Mr Brown, who is also facing child abuse material charges. Police will allege the two men are known to each other. Mr Wilson was also due to return to court in September but will now return to court in November.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Yahoo
Update in alleged daycare abuse case
Police have been granted additional time to prepare their case against a man accused of abusing children in Melbourne childcare centres. Joshua Dale Brown, 26, was charged in May with more than 70 offences including sexual activity in presence of a child under 16, sexual assault of a child under 16 and possessing child abuse material. He has yet to enter pleas to the charges. Mr Brown had been remanded in custody and was expected to appear before Melbourne Magistrates Court on September 15. But high-profile barrister Rishi Nathwani SC appeared in court on Tuesday as prosecutors requested additional time to prepare a hand-up brief of their evidence. Magistrate Donna Bakos approved the request for police to Mr Brown's lawyers by a deadline of December 4. His case was made public on July 1 after a suppression order was lifted, with police alleging Mr Brown abused eight children between the ages of five months and two years old. Since then, police have established Brown worked at 23 childcare centres across Melbourne between January 2017 and May 2025, urging parents and carers to have 2000 children tested for sexually transmitted infections. On July 15, Victoria Police said establishing Mr Brown's work history had been 'extremely complex' due to childcare providers not having centralised records. The force said the investigation remains 'ongoing' and 'active', expecting to release further updates in the coming weeks. In a statement, Acting Commander of Victoria Police's Crime Command Janet Stevenson said the investigation remains the 'highest priority' for police. 'We are working through a large amount of information that has been provided to us,' she said. 'I understand there are people who will be frustrated and I want to reinforce that this is a continually evolving and changing situation. 'I also want to remind people, especially those struggling with this news, that there is a number of support services readily available for impacted parties and I strongly encourage people to seek those out.' Mr Brown is expected to return to court in February.
News.com.au
22-07-2025
- News.com.au
Joshua Dale Brown: Police seek more time to prepare case against alleged Melbourne childcare abuser
Police have been granted additional time to prepare their case against a man accused of abusing children in Melbourne childcare centres. Joshua Dale Brown, 26, was charged in May with more than 70 offences including sexual activity in presence of a child under 16, sexual assault of a child under 16 and possessing child abuse material. He has yet to enter pleas to the charges. Mr Brown had been remanded in custody and was expected to appear before Melbourne Magistrates Court on September 15. But high-profile barrister Rishi Nathwani SC appeared in court on Tuesday as prosecutors requested additional time to prepare a hand-up brief of their evidence. Magistrate Donna Bakos approved the request for police to Mr Brown's lawyers by a deadline of December 4. His case was made public on July 1 after a suppression order was lifted, with police alleging Mr Brown abused eight children between the ages of five months and two years old. Since then, police have established Brown worked at 23 childcare centres across Melbourne between January 2017 and May 2025, urging parents and carers to have 2000 children tested for sexually transmitted infections. On July 15, Victoria Police said establishing Mr Brown's work history had been 'extremely complex' due to childcare providers not having centralised records. The force said the investigation remains 'ongoing' and 'active', expecting to release further updates in the coming weeks. In a statement, Acting Commander of Victoria Police's Crime Command Janet Stevenson said the investigation remains the 'highest priority' for police. 'We are working through a large amount of information that has been provided to us,' she said. 'I understand there are people who will be frustrated and I want to reinforce that this is a continually evolving and changing situation. 'I also want to remind people, especially those struggling with this news, that there is a number of support services readily available for impacted parties and I strongly encourage people to seek those out.'
ABC News
07-07-2025
- ABC News
Law Report Special - Triple mushroom murder: Erin Patterson found guilty
After seven days of deliberation, a jury has found Erin Patterson guilty of murder and attempted murder. The 50-year-old woman was found to have deliberately poisoned four members of her estranged husband's family by serving them a meal containing poisonous wild mushrooms two years ago. The trial in the Victorian Supreme Court in Morwell, outside of Melbourne, ran for more than two months and has drawn international attention. Guest Rishi Nathwani, Defence Barrister, Parnell's Barristers in Melbourne
