High-profile man accused of raping woman told series of lies, court hears
Share this @internewscast.com

A prosecutor has accused a man from a well-known family of fabricating stories to evade responsibility after allegedly raping a woman in his residence.

The accused, who remains unnamed due to legal restrictions, is currently facing a jury at the Victorian County Court as the trial approaches its conclusion with both sides delivering their closing statements.

The allegations claim that the man assaulted the girlfriend of a friend at his Melbourne home in the early morning hours of January 14, 2024.

The case was heard at the Victorian County Court.(Nine)

During the trial, it was revealed that the woman had engaged in consensual relations with her boyfriend at the accused’s house. Afterward, her boyfriend arranged for an Uber and departed the premises shortly before 2 a.m.

Prosecutors allege that the accused misled the woman by claiming that her boyfriend’s Uber was canceled and that he would soon return to the bedroom.

According to the prosecution, the accused then entered the dark bedroom, impersonated the woman’s boyfriend, and proceeded to digitally rape her twice.

In the days after, the man doctored an Uber receipt to allegedly make it look like the complainant’s boyfriend had left the house after 2.30am.

The accused admitted forging the receipt but said he did so because he panicked after being falsely accused of rape. 

Crown prosecutor Jeremy McWilliams told the jury the fake receipt was part of a series of lies the man told to avoid responsibility.

“He was shifting the blame, making it look like there was someone other than him in the house,” McWilliams said. 

He said the jury should ignore the man’s lies and instead believe the alleged victim, who had given clear, consistent and convincing evidence. 

“She’s not mistaken, she’s not confused – she told you what happened,” McWilliams said. 

Defence barrister David Hallowes SC said even the woman had doubted her recollection, telling people she was unsure whether it was the accused or her boyfriend who came into the room. 

Hallowes said the woman did not get a clear look at the offender and it was possible her mind was playing tricks on her when she concluded the accused was responsible.

The defence barrister conceded his client made the “stupid” decision to forge the Uber receipt, but said he did so because he panicked. 

“This is a young man confronting a shocking allegation,” Hallowes said.

“It’s a stupid lie but it’s not a lie that shows he’s guilty.” 

The defence barrister said the man was innocent and should be acquitted of the two rape charges.

Judge Gregory Lyon will give his directions to the jury tomorrow before it begins deliberations. 

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
William 'Billy Boy' Eastment, 79, was arrested in May after allegedly trying to enter the country on a flight from Mexico with more than five kilos of the class A drug hidden in a false bottom of his suitcase

British Pensioner Duped into Smuggling £200K Meth to Chile in £3.7M Prize Scam

A British pensioner with a passion for bowls finds himself in a…
Trump willing to release MRI results, but 'no idea' which part of body it examined

Trump’s Mysterious MRI: Willing to Share Results Despite Uncertainty Over Examined Area

President Donald Trump seemed receptive to making public the findings of a…
Australia's happiest generation of workers revealed

Study Uncovers Australia’s Most Content Generation in the Workforce

According to a recent report by employment platform Seek, baby boomers in…

Government Crackdown: New Regulations Aim to Eliminate Hidden Fees and Subscription Traps

Dodgy business practices that trap consumers into hard-to-escape subscriptions or hit shoppers…
The little-known apps kids are switching to ahead of social media ban

Discover the Top Secret Apps Kids Are Flocking to in Response to Social Media Bans

In anticipation of the forthcoming social media restrictions, Australian teenagers are already…
Facebook Homepage Closeup on LCD Screen, Chrome Web Browser

Approaching Deadline for Under-16s Social Media Restrictions: Which Apps Will Be Affected?

With the under-16s social media ban set to come into effect on…
TGA issues fresh warning for Ozempic and other high-profile drugs

TGA Releases New Advisory on Ozempic and Popular Medications

Australia’s regulatory body for medications has issued a new advisory concerning popular…

Investigator Turned Suspect: Police Accuse Former Advocate of Leading Satanic Child Exploitation Ring

Four Australians remain locked up after being charged for alleged involvement in…
ADF  sexual violence class action reaches court

Landmark ADF Sexual Misconduct Lawsuit Begins in Courtroom

A historic class action lawsuit initiated by a group of women accusing…

Fire Safety Crisis in Hong Kong: Mesh on Apartments Fails Standards Amid Rising Death Toll

Some of the exterior netting used on scaffolding at a Hong Kong…
Godin Court in Churchlands, Perth is a green and leafy cul-de-sac. Residents cant to keep it that way.

Furious Residents Clash with Council Over Unwanted 100m Footpath Project

Exclusive: Residents of a serene cul-de-sac in Perth found themselves puzzled when…
A growing number of Australian businesses are paying ransoms to global crime networks.

Alarming Surge: Australian Businesses Increasingly Succumb to Cybercriminal Ransom Demands

Exclusive: A groundbreaking initiative requiring companies to disclose whether they have succumbed…