Mortgage broker charged in torture case

The Brisbane-based broker has been charged with multiple offences and has been refused bail by the courts

Mortgage broker charged in torture case

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Brisbane-based mortgage broker Jeromy Harris has been charged and faced court in a case involving the torturing and burning of a local woman.

Harris, who is the managing director of Sunshine Home Loans, faces multiple charges including intending to cause grievous bodily harm, intending to disfigure, deprivation of liberty, torture, and two counts of the supply of dangerous drugs. He is the second person to be charged in the case following the arrest of Nicholas Crilley who is allegedly the victim’s partner.

Harris faced the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday (14 July) where his lawyer Remy Kurz formally applied for bail, reported The Courier Mail.

Magistrate John Costello refused bail, saying there was “no evidence” that Harris had “acted with any kind of humanity” relating to the victim.

Harris knew the woman “had been burned and knew she smelled like death,” police prosecutor Sergeant Matthew Kahler told the court.

“Presumably he had been there and smelled the odour,” he said. “He knew that she was there at Harris’ Bulimba home ‘in an injured state’.”

The 21-year old woman remains in an induced coma in the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH), reported News.com.au.

She sustained “horrific” injuries including burns to her body and face which Detective Senior Sergeant Rod Watts believed occurred over “a number of weeks”. She was found on 2 July after a man called emergency services to the Bulimba townhouse where Harris was allegedly living.

A former professional football player with the Brisbane Strikers and Olympic Sharks, Harris worked as a player relationship officer for Professional Footballers Australia before moving into mortgage broking in January 2010.

Related stories:

Ex-Billabong CEO jailed for mortgage fraud

Mortgage broker faces drug dealing charges

Head of mortgage manager convicted of fraud

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