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Melbourne businessman accused of rape and sexual assault in 2023 trial

By The Media Fact Checker teamUpdated 3 hours ago2 articles from 2 sources

Consensus Summary

A Melbourne businessman is on trial for two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault alleged to have occurred in March 2023. Both the Guardian and ABC report that the man pleaded not guilty and that his lawyer, Dermot Dann KC, has challenged the alleged victim’s credibility, citing prior false allegations. The incident took place after the woman, who had worked as his personal assistant in 2022, spent an evening drinking and taking cocaine with him. Police arrived at the property at 3am on 24 March 2023 after the woman contacted her mother. The Guardian details that the woman punched the man in the face after the alleged rapes and recorded the events on her phone, while the ABC notes the defence disputes the claim that she punched him. Both sources agree the trial involves disputes over the woman’s account of prior advances and the man’s alleged drug use, with the Guardian emphasizing a 35-minute police conversation recorded on body-worn camera.

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

Key details reported by multiple sources:

  • The alleged offences occurred in March 2023
  • Police arrived at the property at 3am on 24 March 2023
  • The man faces two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in Victoria’s county court
  • The man pleaded not guilty to the charges
  • The alleged victim worked as the man’s personal assistant in 2022
  • The alleged victim punched the man in the face after the incident
  • The man’s lawyer, Dermot Dann KC, argued the alleged victim had credibility issues
  • The alleged victim texted her mother after the incident, who called police
  • The alleged victim and the man had resumed contact after she worked for him the previous year

Points of Difference

Details reported by only one source:

The Guardian
  • The alleged victim said she spent an evening drinking and taking cocaine with the man while listening to music and watching football at his friend’s home before the incident
  • The man allegedly said 'you’re so sexy', 'I can’t sleep, help me', and 'I need this' after she rejected his advances
  • The alleged victim felt the man rape her twice and punched him in the face after turning around
  • The man allegedly said 'you’ve broken my nose' after being punched
  • The alleged victim took notes on her phone and texted her mother before police arrived
  • The woman claimed the man previously made sexual advances toward her, and she told him 'If I let you do this, if I let you fuck me, you will never respect me as your employee'
  • The defence argued the woman raised the issue of 'recompense' with her mother while still at the accused’s house
  • The 35-minute police conversation with the woman was recorded on a body-worn camera and expected to be shown to the jury
ABC News
  • The man allegedly replied 'It's not rape, I was using my fingers' after being called a rapist
  • The man allegedly asked the woman to perform a sex act on him after the incident, which left her in further shock
  • The defence disputed allegations that the man was taking cocaine during the night in question
  • The defence rejected claims the man made unwanted sexual advances over several months
  • The defence said the woman punched the man in the face was untrue
  • The trial is expected to run for about two weeks

Contradictions

Conflicting information between sources:

  • The Guardian states the man allegedly said 'you’re so sexy', 'I can’t sleep, help me', and 'I need this', while the ABC does not mention these exact words
  • The Guardian reports the man allegedly raped the woman twice, while the ABC does not specify the number of times
  • The ABC states the man allegedly replied 'It's not rape, I was using my fingers' after being called a rapist, which is not mentioned in the Guardian
  • The Guardian mentions the woman took notes on her phone and texted her mother before police arrived, while the ABC only states she texted her mother who called police

Source Articles

GUARDIAN

High-profile Melbourne man called rapist and punched in face shortly after he raped former employee, court hears

The man, who cannot be named, faces two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in Victoria’s county court. He has pleaded not guilty Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A high-profile Melbourne man was called a rapist and punched in the face by his former personal assistant shortly after he raped her at his home, a Victorian court has heard. But the man’s barrister, Dermot Dann KC, told the rape trial on Wedn

5 hours ago
ABC

Well-connected Melbourne businessman pleads not guilty to raping woman

The businessman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is accused of attacking a woman at his home in 2023.

9 hours ago