A man from a prominent family has firmly denied accusations of rape during his testimony in court today. The individual, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, appeared before the Victorian County Court, maintaining his innocence against charges of two counts of rape.
The court heard that he allegedly assaulted his friend’s girlfriend at his Melbourne residence in the early morning hours of January 14, 2024. According to the allegations, the incident occurred after the woman had consensual intercourse with her boyfriend at the house.
Following this, her boyfriend reportedly arranged an Uber and left the premises just before 2 a.m. Prosecutors claim that the accused deceived the woman by falsely stating that her boyfriend’s Uber had been canceled and that he would be returning upstairs.
It is further alleged that the accused then entered the darkened bedroom, masquerading as the woman’s boyfriend. The prosecution argues that this was when the alleged assault took place. As the trial continues, the jury will have to weigh these serious allegations against the accused’s steadfast denial.
It’s alleged the accused then lied, telling the woman her boyfriend would be returning upstairs because his Uber had been cancelled.
Prosecutors allege it was the accused who went into the dark bedroom a short time later and pretended to be the woman’s boyfriend.
He allegedly digitally raped her but she managed to move away and ask directly if he was the accused.
The man claimed he was her boyfriend and he allegedly then grabbed both her hands before digitally raping her again while she told him to stop.
She managed to get a hand free and felt his hair, which was longer than her boyfriend’s, and that’s when the man allegedly stopped and ran from the room.
It’s alleged he returned a few minutes later and acted as if nothing had happened, instead asking her if she was OK.
Under questioning from the prosecutor, the man repeatedly denied he ever raped the woman.
“I never went into that room and sexually assaulted (the complainant),” he said in his evidence.
The jury was told the man doctored an Uber receipt in the days after to make it look like the alleged victim’s boyfriend had left the house after 2.30am.
The accused admitted in evidence that he forged the receipt but denied he did so to avoid taking responsibility for his crimes.
The trial before Judge Gregory Lyon continues.
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National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
