Well-connected Melbourne businessman pleads not guilty to raping woman

Wed 8 Jul 2026 at 2:07pm

Wed 8 Jul 2026 at 2:07pm

In short:

A businessman accused of attacking a woman at his home in 2023 has pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault.

The man's lawyer has told a Melbourne court that the alleged attack did not occur and that was a "massive issue" with the woman's credibility.

What's next?

The alleged victim is expected to step into the witness box and give evidence during the case.

A well-connected Melbourne man is on trial for rape, with a woman accusing him of attacking her at his home in 2023.

The businessman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of rape and sexual assault.

His lawyer, Dermot Dann KC, told a County Court jury today that the alleged attack did not occur and there was a "massive issue" with the woman's credibility.

Prosecutor Matthew Fisher said the accused man hired the complainant as his personal assistant in 2022.

Mr Fisher said the alleged rape occurred months later in the man's bedroom, after a night when the pair had been drinking and taking cocaine.

The prosecutor said the woman told the man, "I don't want this" when he began touching her.

However the accused allegedly replied: "You're so sexy" and "I can't stop".

Mr Fisher said the man then penetrated the woman with his fingers and penis against her consent.

"At that point she punched him with her fist to the face, to his nose,"

Mr Fisher said.

According to the prosecution, the woman told the man: "You're a f***ing rapist".

He is alleged to have replied: "It's not rape, I was using my fingers".

Mr Fisher said the woman went to another room and later returned to see the man lying on his bed.

He then allegedly asked her to perform a sex act on him, which left her in further shock.

The woman texted her mother, who contacted police. Officers arrived at the man's home in the early hours of March 24, 2023.

Mr Dann, for the defence, said his client disputed allegations that he had been taking drugs during the night in question.

The man also rejected claims he made unwanted sexual advances towards the woman over several months and had been told to stop.

Critically, Mr Dann said, no sexual assault occurred and it was untrue that the accused was punched in the face by the woman.

"We say there is a massive issue with respect to [the woman's] credibility, a massive issue with respect to reliability," Mr Dann told the jury.

He said the defence would point to "false allegations" made by the woman, including a claim she once made against a police officer.

The woman is expected to step into the witness box and give evidence during the case.

The trial, before Judge Frank Gucciardo, is expected to run for about two weeks.