Key Takeaways
- A son of a high-profile man has been found guilty of raping a woman inside his own home in Melbourne.
- The man denied the two rape charges and took the case to trial in the Victorian County Court.
- The jury delivered guilty verdicts after less than two days of deliberations.
- The offender digitally raped his friend’s girlfriend at his home after her boyfriend had left the property.
- The man had lied to the woman, telling her that her boyfriend would be returning upstairs, and then pretended to be the boyfriend before committing the crime.
Introduction to the Case
A son of a prominent individual has been convicted of raping a woman at his residence in Melbourne. The accused had denied the two rape charges and opted to take the case to trial in the Victorian County Court. The trial commenced, and a jury was tasked with determining the man’s guilt or innocence. The prosecution presented their case, alleging that the man had digitally raped his friend’s girlfriend at his home in the early hours of January 14, 2024.
The Alleged Crime
The jury was informed that the woman had engaged in consensual sex with her boyfriend at the house, but he had organized an Uber and left the property shortly before 2 am. The offender then deceived the woman, telling her that her boyfriend would be returning upstairs because his Uber had been cancelled. However, it was the offender who entered the dark bedroom a short time later, pretending to be the woman’s boyfriend, and digitally raped her twice. This heinous act was a blatant violation of the woman’s trust and bodily autonomy.
The Investigation and Trial
In the days following the incident, the man doctored an Uber receipt to make it appear as though the complainant’s boyfriend had left the house after 2:30 am. The man admitted to forging the receipt but claimed he did so because he panicked after being falsely accused of rape. The Crown prosecutor, Jeremy McWilliams, argued that the man had told a series of lies to deflect blame and urged the jury to believe the alleged victim, who had provided clear, consistent, and convincing evidence. On the other hand, the defense barrister, David Hallowes SC, argued that his client was telling the truth and suggested that the woman’s mind might have been playing tricks on her.
The Verdict
The jury retired to begin deliberations at 3 pm on Wednesday after hearing seven days of evidence and legal argument. The 12 jurors returned their guilty verdicts shortly after midday on Friday. The man was visibly shaken, slumping in his seat with his head in his hands as the verdicts were delivered. His mother was also present in court, overcome with emotion, and cried upon hearing the guilty verdicts. The verdict marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for the victim and serves as a reminder of the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
Conclusion and Support
The guilty verdict in this case highlights the importance of believing and supporting victims of sexual assault. The National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service is available to provide support and counseling to those affected by such crimes. The service can be reached at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). It is essential to recognize that sexual assault is never the victim’s fault and that perpetrators will be held accountable for their actions. The conviction of the son of a high-profile man serves as a reminder that no one is above the law, and justice will be served regardless of one’s social status or background.
