Section 93B of the Evidence Act 1977 (Qld) is concerned with the objective circumstances in which a statement was made, not with the truthfulness of the statement; where a s 93A statement is made shortly after the alleged offending, the reliability requirement is satisfied and it is for the jury to assess the evidence. A complainant's suicide may be taken into account in sentencing under s 9(2)(c)(i) of the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (Qld) where it can be inferred that the offending was the predominant cause, even where other contributing factors exist. A head sentence of 12 years' imprisonment with a serious violent offence declaration is within range for the prolonged rape of a 13-year-old child in a breach of trust situation resulting in the complainant's suicide.
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