Committal of Cooper Mitchell Bamberry to Stand Trial on Multiple Child Sex Offence Charges
Introduction
Cooper Mitchell Bamberry, a resident of Helensvale, has been committed to stand trial in the District Court following a committal hearing in the Brisbane Magistrates Court regarding 129 charges of a sexual nature.
Main Body
The legal proceedings involve a comprehensive set of allegations brought against Bamberry, who was 22 years old at the time of the charges filed in March and May 2025. The 129 charges include five counts of rape, 53 counts of indecent treatment of a child, and 45 counts pertaining to the use of the internet to procure individuals under the age of 16. Additionally, the charges encompass the production and distribution of child exploitation material, carnal knowledge of children, grooming, and unlawful stalking, as well as the threat to disseminate prohibited visual recordings. These charges resulted from police investigations and a public appeal, which culminated in a raid on the defendant's property and the seizure of electronic devices. During the committal hearing, Deputy Chief Magistrate Stephen Courtney presided over the matter, during which a female witness provided testimony via videolink from a remote location. The court was closed to the public for 25 minutes for this testimony; however, it was noted that the witness was not a child affected by the alleged conduct. Regarding the procedural trajectory of the case, defense counsel Adam Guest consented to the matter proceeding to trial. The prosecution, led by Qi Wang, submitted various witness and police statements to the court. When queried by the magistrate regarding a plea or statement, the defendant declined to provide a response. It is noted that the defendant is the son of Mark Bamberry, a magistrate appointed to the Queensland judiciary in 2022.
Conclusion
The defendant remains in custody and has been remanded until a trial date is established in the District Court.