A person from a high-profile household informed a collection of lies to deflect blame after raping a girl in his own residence, a prosecutor has alleged.
The trial of the person, who can’t be recognized for authorized causes, entered its closing levels immediately as either side made closing arguments to the Victorian County Court docket jury.
It is alleged the accused digitally raped his good friend’s girlfriend at his Melbourne dwelling within the early hours of January 14, 2024.
The jury was informed the girl had consensual intercourse together with her boyfriend on the home however then he organised an Uber and left the property shortly earlier than 2am.
It is alleged the accused then lied, telling the girl her boyfriend could be returning upstairs as a result of his Uber had been cancelled.
Prosecutors allege it was the accused who went into the darkish bed room a short while later and pretended to be the girl’s boyfriend earlier than digitally raping her twice.
Within the days after, the person doctored an Uber receipt to allegedly make it appear to be the complainant’s boyfriend had left the home after 2.30am.
The accused admitted forging the receipt however mentioned he did so as a result of he panicked after being falsely accused of rape.
Crown prosecutor Jeremy McWilliams informed the jury the pretend receipt was a part of a collection of lies the person informed to keep away from accountability.
“He was shifting the blame, making it appear to be there was somebody aside from him in the home,” McWilliams mentioned.
He mentioned the jury ought to ignore the person’s lies and as a substitute imagine the alleged sufferer, who had given clear, constant and convincing proof.
“She’s not mistaken, she’s not confused – she informed you what occurred,” McWilliams mentioned.
Defence barrister David Hallowes SC mentioned even the girl had doubted her recollection, telling individuals she was not sure whether or not it was the accused or her boyfriend who got here into the room.
Hallowes mentioned the girl didn’t get a transparent have a look at the offender and it was doable her thoughts was enjoying tips on her when she concluded the accused was accountable.
The defence barrister conceded his consumer made the “silly” choice to forge the Uber receipt, however mentioned he did so as a result of he panicked.
“It is a younger man confronting a surprising allegation,” Hallowes mentioned.
“It is a silly lie however it’s not a lie that reveals he is responsible.”
The defence barrister mentioned the person was harmless and must be acquitted of the 2 rape costs.
Choose Gregory Lyon will give his instructions to the jury tomorrow earlier than it begins deliberations.
