The criminal case against the mother of a star Brisbane Broncos player charged with manslaughter over a horror crash that killed three people remains in limbo as she awaits further psychiatric assessment.
Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua – the mother of Broncos forward Payne Haas – was the sole survivor of a two-car collision in Bonogin in the Gold Coast hinterland on December 30, 2022, which left three people dead.
Susan Zimmer, 70, her partner Chris Fawcett, 79, and Ms Zimmer’s 35-year-old daughter Steffanie were traveling in the second car, a silver Mercedes, and both died at the scene.
The 48-year-old woman has also been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evading police and driving without a license.
She was later charged with drink driving in March last year.
A judge has condemned the slow pace of a court hearing involving Uiatu Taufua
The mother of NRL superstar Payne Haas has been charged with manslaughter
Ms Taufua’s case was briefly discussed at the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday.
The court was told her Sydney legal team, Kings Law Group, had arranged a psychiatric assessment in March to determine whether Ms Taufua should be referred to the mental health court.
However, Kings Law Group’s city police officer said the appointed psychiatrist would require “further assessment” of Ms Taufua and undertake “some consultation” with her family about her mental capacity.
With no date set for these further consultations, Magistrate Kerry McGee intervened by saying ‘no, no, no’.
Ms McGee said the matter was dragging on too long and she needed to know the next consultation date.
“I’m not looking forward to it, this has been going on for far too long and this indictment needs to move forward, and it’s not going to go that way,” she said.
The court was told the delay in the report was due to the appointed psychiatrist going on leave after his initial consultation with Ms Taufua.
Ms McGee said there was sufficient time to carry out the reports after the medical review was ordered in October last year.
“This has been suspended for that purpose since October last year, and that is completely unacceptable,” she said.
“I assume she is capable of doing so (and) unless there is evidence to the contrary, I will proceed accordingly.”
“This issue has been in limbo for far too long.”
Ms McGee has ordered that the matter be adjourned until July 11 so that the reports can be completed and the Kings Law Group can make all necessary applications necessary for the case to proceed.
Police allege Ms Taufua drove ‘dangerously’ along Bonogin Rd near Calanthe Lane just before 5pm on the same afternoon as the fatal crash.
Police allege Haas’ mother was driving ‘dangerously’ before fatal crash
Police reportedly pursued her black 2017 Mercedes car before abandoning the pursuit after she reportedly fled the area.
Moments later, the same police officers received a report of an accident involving two cars about a kilometer away.
Emergency services were able to free the family of three from their silver Mercedes, but they all died at the scene.
Ms Taufua was freed from her black Mercedes after it caught fire.
It will further be alleged in court that Ms Taufua was driving under the influence at the time of the accident.
She was taken to hospital but was later arrested by police.
Ms Taufua did not appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday as she is on remand at the Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre.
She has yet to enter formal pleas.
There is no evidence that Mr. Haas was involved in the crash.