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Melbourne businessman convicted of rape after three-week trial

By The Media Fact Checker teamUpdated Just now4 articles from 3 sources

Consensus Summary

A Melbourne businessman was found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault after a three-week trial in the County Court of Victoria. The verdict, delivered on Tuesday after three days of deliberations, followed a case that hinged on the credibility of the complainant, a 27-year-old former personal assistant. The assault occurred on March 23, 2023, after the pair had been drinking and consuming cocaine. The accused, whose identity is suppressed due to ongoing mental health concerns and safety risks, was immediately taken into custody following the guilty verdicts, with his bail revoked. The complainant testified for over a week, describing how the accused allegedly raped her twice after she resisted his advances, including kissing and sexual assault attempts. She punched him in the face during the assault and later contacted her mother, who called police. The accused’s lawyer, Dermot Dann KC, argued the complainant was an unreliable witness, describing her testimony as a mix of lies and inconsistencies. However, the jury rejected these claims. The trial also saw debates over suppression orders, with the accused’s mental health cited as a reason to prevent his identification. DNA evidence was ruled inadmissible, and the case has sparked discussions about media coverage and suppression orders in rape trials.

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Key details reported by multiple sources:

  • A three-week trial took place in the County Court of Victoria
  • The accused was found guilty of three counts: two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault
  • The verdict was delivered after three days of deliberations
  • The assault occurred on March 23, 2023
  • The accused was taken into custody immediately after the guilty verdicts
  • The accused will be sentenced at a later date
  • The complainant was a 27-year-old woman
  • The complainant was the accused’s former personal assistant
  • The complainant punched the accused in the face during the assault
  • The accused’s bail was revoked after the guilty verdicts
  • The trial hinged on the credibility of the complainant as the key witness
  • The complainant gave evidence for more than a week (or four days, as per Guardian)
  • The accused did not give evidence during the trial
  • The complainant texted her mother after the assault, who called police
  • Police arrived at the property at 3am on 24 March 2023
  • The complainant and accused had consumed alcohol and cocaine before the assault
  • The accused’s lawyer, Dermot Dann KC, argued the complainant was an unreliable witness
  • The trial took place in the County Court of Victoria
  • The accused’s identity is suppressed due to an ongoing suppression order

Points of Difference

Details reported by only one source:

ABC News
  • The complainant spent days in the witness box giving evidence during the trial.
  • The accused is connected to multiple industries, but details are suppressed.
  • A hearing to argue for lifting the gag order on publishing a pixelated photo of the accused was scheduled for later today.
  • The complainant was several decades younger than the accused.
  • The accused allegedly made numerous unwanted sexual advances toward the complainant in the months leading up to the night of the assault.
The Age
  • The trial began on July 8.
  • The accused had been on trial for rape and sexual assault since July 8.
  • The complainant was offered work on the accused’s autobiography and a film script.
  • An Uber was sent to collect the complainant and bring her to the accused’s house.
  • The complainant quit her job months before reconnecting with the accused in March 2023.
  • The complainant and accused allegedly consumed wine and cocaine and watched television at an associate’s home in South Melbourne before returning to the accused’s house.
  • The accused allegedly pulled the complainant from a lounge onto his bed, telling her he would take care of her.
  • The accused allegedly said, 'You’re so sexy, I can’t stop, I need your help to sleep, help me, I need to.'
  • The complainant texted her mother from a spare room after the assault.
  • The accused’s defence argued the complainant had a financial motive to lie.
  • The defence described the complainant as 'like a fiction writer' and claimed her testimony was a 'horrible mixture of lies, fabrications, recent inventions, inconsistencies, and evidence that had been proved to be demonstrably false.'
  • The prosecution applied to revoke the accused’s bail minutes after the guilty verdicts were returned.
  • Almost 247 suppression orders were issued in the County Court of Victoria last year.
  • Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800 737 732.
The Guardian
  • The jury deliberated since late on Friday morning before delivering the verdict on Tuesday.
  • The accused’s bail was revoked immediately after the guilty verdicts.
  • The complainant and accused had spent an evening drinking and taking cocaine while listening to music and watching football at a friend’s home before the assault.
  • The complainant gave evidence over more than four days before a closed court.
  • The accused’s lawyer argued that the complainant had claimed she continued to stay in the house after the alleged offences.
  • The complainant was reluctant to contact authorities due to a prior false allegation involving police.
  • The complainant raised the issue of 'recompense' with her mother while still at the accused’s house.
  • Two of the accused’s friends testified about seeing him and the complainant before the offences.
  • A former colleague and a barrister gave character evidence for the accused.
  • The accused’s text message to the complainant on 23 March 2023 read, 'You free this arvo for a meeting?'
  • The accused’s house had a grand piano, wine cellar, and sauna.
  • The complainant signed the accused’s guest book with a picture of a smiling face.
  • DNA evidence was ruled inadmissible by Judge Frank Gucciardo, including a six-page report from a committal hearing.
  • The suppression order was first made in 2023 and amended in late 2024 to allow reporting without revealing the accused’s identity.
  • Psychiatrist Dr Jacqueline Rakov testified that the accused had inpatient admissions due to mental distress from the charges and media coverage.
  • The accused had previously attempted suicide, though these attempts were self-reported and not directly linked to the charges.
  • The accused suffered from PTSD, anxiety, low mood, poor concentration, and low self-confidence.
  • The accused panicked about being outside and was largely staying at home.
  • The accused’s distress increased after media coverage of an earlier court appearance.
  • The accused’s lawyer argued media coverage could push him to self-harm.
  • The complainant called the accused’s lawyer 'Dermot Dickhead' in emails to the police officer in charge of the case.
  • The accused’s suppression order was linked to a similar case involving Tom Silvagni in 2025.

Contradictions

Conflicting information between sources:

  • The ABC states the trial lasted a 'three-week trial,' while THEAGE states it began on July 8 without specifying the exact duration.
  • The ABC does not mention the complainant’s age, while THEAGE and GUARDIAN both state she was a '27-year-old' woman.
  • The ABC and GUARDIAN mention the complainant gave evidence for 'days' or 'more than a week,' while GUARDIAN specifies 'more than four days.'
  • THEAGE states the complainant quit her job 'months later' before reconnecting with the accused in March 2023, while GUARDIAN does not specify a timeline for her quitting.
  • THEAGE mentions the accused offered the complainant work on his autobiography and a film script, while GUARDIAN only mentions his autobiography.

Source Articles

ABC

Breaking: Melbourne businessman found guilty of rape

A County Court jury has found beyond reasonable doubt that the man, who can't be named for legal reasons, raped and sexually assaulted a woman at his home in March 2023.

8 hours ago
THEAGE

Melbourne businessman found guilty of rape, but his name remains a secret

The high-profile man had been defending the rape case under the blanket of a suppression order on his identity.

4 hours ago
GUARDIAN

Well-connected Melbourne man found guilty of raping former staffer

Jury finds that the man, who cannot be named, assaulted the woman at his home in March 2023 A well-connected Melbourne man has been found guilty of raping a former employee. The man, who cannot be named, faced two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in the county court of Victoria, and pleaded not guilty. Continue reading...

8 hours ago
GUARDIAN

What the jury didn’t hear before it found a well-connected Melbourne man guilty of rape

After a three-week trial, a man has been found guilty of raping a former employee, whose imperfect account was central to the case Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast It began with a text message from a well-connected Melbourne man. “You free this arvo for a meeting” he asked his former personal assistant on 23 March 2023. She was. She soon found herself in his luxurious house, with its grand piano, wine cellar, and

2 hours ago