Detective accused of improper behaviour
A Queensland detective will face court next month charged with improperly charging the girlfriend of a man later acquitted of a sniper-style shooting on the Gold Coast.
Jason Ricardo, 39, has been charged with abuse of office after allegedly laying criminal charges for "improper purposes" against Kylie Cunnington in March 2011.
Cunnington's boyfriend Rick El-Masri was acquitted in May of causing grievous bodily harm to a bystander who was shot from the balcony of a Surfers Paradise highrise in December 2010.
At a brief mention of Ricardo's case at the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday, his lawyer requested a preliminary hearing be arranged for August 12 ahead of a likely five-day trial.
The charges against Ricardo stem from a complaint by Ms Cunnington to Queensland's crime and corruption watchdog.
Ms Cunnington complained about her treatment by Ricardo at the Southport watchhouse three years ago, with the watchdog ordering the officer to face court in May.
Ricardo has been stood down from his police job.
