Key Takeaways
- A man from a high-profile family is on trial for allegedly raping a woman in his Melbourne home
- The accused allegedly told a series of lies to deflect blame, including forging an Uber receipt
- The prosecution alleges the accused digitally raped the woman twice after her boyfriend left the house
- The defence argues that the woman’s recollection of events is uncertain and that the accused’s lies do not necessarily prove his guilt
- The jury is expected to begin deliberations after receiving directions from the judge
Introduction to the Case
The trial of a man from a high-profile family has entered its final stages, with both the prosecution and defence presenting their closing arguments to the Victorian County Court jury. The accused, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is alleged to have digitally raped a woman in his Melbourne home in the early hours of January 14, 2024. The case has been heard at the Victorian County Court, and the jury has been tasked with determining the accused’s guilt or innocence.
The Alleged Crime
The prosecution alleges that the woman had consensual sex with her boyfriend at the accused’s house, but then the boyfriend organised an Uber and left the property shortly before 2am. The accused then allegedly told the woman that her boyfriend would be returning upstairs because his Uber had been cancelled. However, it is alleged that the accused himself went into the dark bedroom a short time later and pretended to be the woman’s boyfriend before digitally raping her twice. The prosecution argues that the accused’s actions were a deliberate attempt to deceive and exploit the woman.
The Accused’s Lies
In the days following the alleged rape, the accused doctored an Uber receipt to make it appear as though the woman’s boyfriend had left the house after 2:30am. The accused admitted to forging the receipt, but claimed that he did so because he panicked after being falsely accused of rape. The prosecution argues that this was just one of a series of lies told by the accused to avoid responsibility for his actions. Crown prosecutor Jeremy McWilliams told the jury that the fake receipt was part of a larger pattern of deception, and that the accused was "shifting the blame" to avoid accountability.
The Defence’s Argument
The defence barrister, David Hallowes SC, argued that the woman’s recollection of events was uncertain, and that she had doubted her own memory of the incident. Hallowes pointed out that the woman had told people that she was unsure whether it was the accused or her boyfriend who came into the room, and that she did not get a clear look at the offender. The defence argues that the woman’s mind may have been playing tricks on her, and that she may have mistakenly identified the accused as the perpetrator. Hallowes also conceded that the accused had made a "stupid" decision to forge the Uber receipt, but argued that this did not necessarily prove his guilt.
The Prosecution’s Rebuttal
The prosecution argues that the accused’s lies and attempts to deceive the woman and the court are evidence of his guilt. McWilliams told the jury that the accused’s actions were a deliberate attempt to avoid responsibility, and that the woman’s clear and consistent testimony should be believed. The prosecution argues that the accused’s lies and forged receipt are just part of a larger pattern of behaviour designed to shift the blame and avoid accountability. The prosecution is urging the jury to ignore the accused’s lies and to focus on the evidence presented in court.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The trial is now in its final stages, with the judge set to give directions to the jury before they begin deliberations. The jury will be tasked with weighing the evidence and determining the accused’s guilt or innocence. The accused faces two charges of rape, and if convicted, could face serious penalties. The case has highlighted the importance of believing and supporting victims of sexual assault, and the need for perpetrators to be held accountable for their actions. Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).