A former NRL star accused of strangling and assaulting a child has been committed to stand trial, with a magistrate describing the allegations as “extremely serious”.
Joshua McGuire, a former Queensland Maroons star who has played for several Queensland and NSW rugby league clubs, was charged in December over the alleged strangulation of a five-year-old.
Supporters packed a Brisbane courtroom on Thursday, with McGuire staring straight ahead for most of the committal hearing.
The mother of the child, a witness to the alleged incident late last year, told the court that after it happened, she saw the child upset.
McGuire’s barrister Kim Bryson cross-examined the woman, asking about conversations she had had with people close to her after the alleged assault. She said she could not recall.
The court heard that police interviewed the child and had taken their photo.
McGuire was unsuccessful in part of his application to have his bail conditions varied, with Magistrate Belinda Merrin describing the allegations as “extremely serious”.
“There is evidence which is consistent with the allegation of choking, namely markings to the complainant child’s neck, [the child’s] immediate demeanour consistent with there having been something very upsetting having occurred,” Merrin said.
Bryson consented to the case being progressed, and McGuire was committed to stand trial at a later date in the District Court.
When asked by the magistrate if he had anything to say, McGuire answered: “No, your honour.”
McGuire played almost 200 games for the Brisbane Broncos before joining the North Queensland Cowboys and later the St George Illawarra Dragons.
He also played 14 State of Origin matches for the Maroons.
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