A prominent Melbourne figure has been found guilty by a jury of raping a former employee in his home. The verdict followed a 13-day trial at the Melbourne County Court, concluding with the jury deliberating for less than three days. The man, whose identity is currently suppressed by a court order, was taken into custody immediately after the verdict was delivered on Tuesday. A new legal battle is now underway regarding whether the suppression order will be lifted.
Jury Delivers Guilty Verdict After Trial
The jury, composed of nine women and three men, found the accused guilty on two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The trial heard allegations that the incident occurred on March 23, 2023, after the man invited the complainant to his residence. Prosecutors alleged that the pair consumed wine and cocaine together. The complainant testified that she had explicitly communicated her lack of sexual interest in the man and her desire for no romantic relationship, stating she was not attracted to him and never would be. She believed the man had initially accepted her boundaries.
Later that evening, after attending a friend’s house to watch football, the two returned to the man’s Melbourne home. Further cocaine consumption allegedly took place before the accused stated he was tired and wished to go to bed. The complainant entered his bedroom and sat on a chair while he was in bed. Court proceedings revealed that she became distressed and began confiding in the man about difficulties in a past relationship.
Allegations of Sexual Assault and Rape
According to trial evidence, the man then allegedly pulled the woman onto his bed as she started to cry. She reported pushing him away when he attempted to kiss her. The court heard that he then touched her breasts, waist, and buttocks, and attempted to place his hand between her legs. The woman stated she told him, “I don’t want this,” and tried to push him away. Prosecutor Matt Fisher recounted the man’s alleged remarks to the jury, including, “You are so sexy,” and, “I can’t stop, I need your help to sleep, help me.”
The jury was told that the woman remained on the bed, crying and holding a pillow against her chest. The man allegedly pulled the blanket off her and proceeded to penetrate her digitally. The complainant reportedly did not respond and closed her eyes. She then felt the accused remove his pants and subsequently experienced penile penetration. The prosecutor stated that the man penetrated her a second time shortly after.
Following the alleged assaults, the woman reportedly punched the man in the nose. The man reacted by grabbing his face, stating his nose was broken. The woman then exclaimed, “You’re a f***ing rapist.” The accused allegedly responded, “It’s not rape. I was using my fingers.” The woman countered, “That’s still rape, you can’t just do that. Also, you didn’t just use your fingers, I felt you used your d***.” The man then instructed her to order a ride-share service to leave his residence.
The woman stated she was too exhausted to leave and requested to sleep in a different room. Approximately thirty minutes later, she allegedly found the man in the spare room bed. She claimed she told him she wanted to “fix this” and move past the incident. However, she also testified that she saw him in bed with his pants off and that he began masturbating, subsequently asking her to “do it for him.” Shocked by this request, she reportedly slammed the door and returned to her room.
Immediate Aftermath and Police Involvement
While in her room, the woman documented the events in written notes, which she sent to her mother. She informed her mother that the man had raped her digitally and with his penis. Her mother then contacted emergency services, notified her daughter that police were involved, and advised her that an officer would be in touch. The woman spoke with police shortly before 4 a.m. on March 24, 2023, providing the man’s address.
Police arrived at the residence later that morning. The accused was reportedly elsewhere in the house at the time. A significant portion of the woman’s 30-minute conversation with the first responding officer was captured on body-worn camera before she was taken to a police station for a forensic medical examination.
Background of the Relationship
Evidence presented during the trial indicated that the woman had met the accused in August 2022 and had briefly been employed by him. In March 2023, prior to the alleged assault, they reconnected after her employment had ended. The court heard that the woman had noticed photographs and personal details of former employees in a Facebook group associated with the man’s company. She had emailed the man suggesting that one of his staff members should revoke access to the company’s social media accounts for ex-employees.
The man allegedly offered to pay the woman to remove the company tag from Facebook, stating he missed her presence. The woman recalled positive experiences working with him. A few days later, he reportedly offered her an opportunity to work on a new project, expressing a desire to collaborate again. It was after this that she traveled to his home on March 23, 2023, where the alleged events unfolded.
Legal Proceedings and Future Hearings
The man was defended by senior counsel Dermot Dann KC. Judge Frank Gucciardo presided over the trial. The convicted man is scheduled to appear in court at a later date for a pre-sentence hearing. A separate hearing is set to determine whether the current court-ordered suppression of his identity will be lifted, allowing for public disclosure.
