Latest news with #SemiasDonnelly
ABC News
18-06-2025
- ABC News
Cairns kidnapping accused threatened teen with gel blaster, court hears
A Far North Queensland man has been denied bail for his alleged role in a Cairns teenager's two-day kidnapping and torture ordeal. Police allege the 19-year-old woman was kidnapped on Sheridan Street, Cairns, on Thursday, then threatened with a replica gun and tortured at multiple properties before police found her on Sunday. Three people — 34-year-old Kaidii Ephraums, 22-year-old Waylan Satrick and 23-year-old Semias Donnelly — have been charged with offences including deprivation of liberty and common assault. Cairns Magistrates Court today heard one of the properties was the home of Mr Donnelly, who appeared via videolink from the Cairns Watchhouse. During his bail application, the court heard that Mr Donnelly allegedly threatened the victim with a gel blaster, a type of replica gun. His lawyer, Jacqui O'Reilly, said her client disputed the charges and was "only involved for a short time" while the victim was at his house and he didn't participate in the initial abduction. She also told the court the victim was fed and allowed to shower while at Mr Donnelly's residence. The prosecution opposed bail, telling the court Mr Donnelly was an active participant, given the victim was allegedly blindfolded and bloodied when she was at his home and there was an unacceptable risk he would try to contact her if released. Magistrate Terrence Browne told the court Mr Donnelly had also participated in forcing the teenager to write a "demeaning" apology to his co-accused, Ms Ephraums. Magistrate Brown denied Mr Donnelly bail, saying the allegation he menaced the teenager with a replica firearm was "very serious" and that the Crown case against him was "strong". Mr Donnelly was remanded in custody until August 5. The case against co-accused Mr Satrick, was also mentioned in court today and he was remanded in custody until September 17. Ms Ephraums appeared in court on Monday and was remanded in custody until August.
ABC News
17-06-2025
- ABC News
Second person charged over alleged kidnapping and torture of 19yo in Cairns
A second person has faced court over the alleged kidnapping and torture of a 19-year-old woman in Cairns. Semias Donnelly, 23, was arrested in the Cairns suburb of Freshwater on Monday. He has been charged with three counts of common assault, and one count each of threats, deprivation of liberty unlawfully detaining or confining a person and torture. Police alleged in the Cairns Magistrates Court that Mr Donnelly and 34-year-old Townsville woman Kaidii Dayl Ephraums snatched the teenager from Cairns North on Friday. They alleged the pair took her to a property and tortured her for two days. She was found by police on Sunday afternoon with a shaved head and severe bruising to her body after a third party filed a missing persons report. The teenager was taken to Cairns Hospital and has since been released. Police said Mr Donnelly and Ms Ephraums knew one another. Mr Donnelly is due to face Cairns Magistrates Court again tomorrow. Ms Ephraums faced court on Monday and was remanded in custody, to appear again in August.
