Prominent Melbourne Figure Faces Rape Trial, Enters Not Guilty Plea

A high-profile Melbourne businessman has fronted the County Court, pleading not guilty to charges of rape and sexual assault. The trial, presided over by Judge Frank Gucciardo, centers on allegations of a violent encounter at the man's home in 2023, with both prosecution and defence presenting starkly contrasting accounts.

Prosecutors assert the accused, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, hired the complainant as his personal assistant in 2022. According to Prosecutor Matthew Fisher, the alleged rape occurred months later in the man's bedroom after a night involving drinking and cocaine use.

Mr. Fisher detailed a harrowing sequence of events, stating the woman explicitly told the man, "I don't want this" when he began touching her. However, the accused allegedly responded with phrases such as "You're so sexy" and "I can't stop." The court heard allegations that the man then proceeded to penetrate the woman with his fingers and penis without her consent. In response, the woman allegedly punched him in the face, specifically his nose, exclaiming, "You're a f***ing rapist." The accused reportedly replied, "It's not rape, I was using my fingers."

The prosecution's account continued, alleging the woman retreated to another room but later returned to find the man on his bed. He then purportedly asked her to perform another sex act, an request that reportedly left her in further shock. The woman subsequently contacted her mother, who promptly alerted police. Officers arrived at the man's residence in the early hours of March 24, 2023, to investigate the report.

Defence lawyer Dermot Dann KC, representing the businessman, mounted a robust defence, telling the jury that the alleged attack simply "did not occur." Mr. Dann critically challenged the complainant's reliability and credibility, stating there was a "massive issue" with both aspects of her testimony. He indicated that the defence intends to highlight what it describes as "false allegations" previously made by the woman, including a past claim against a police officer.

The defence also disputed several key elements of the prosecution's case. Mr. Dann stated his client denies taking drugs on the night in question and rejects claims that he made unwanted sexual advances towards the woman over several months, or that he was ever told to cease such behaviour. Furthermore, the defence maintains it is untrue that the accused was punched in the face by the complainant.

The alleged victim is expected to take the witness stand to provide her evidence as the trial proceeds. The proceedings before Judge Gucciardo are anticipated to span approximately two weeks, with the jury tasked with evaluating the conflicting evidence presented.