Daily London
A woman who was raped by the son of a high-profile Victorian couple has broken her silence.
The sexual assault survivor has spoken out in a bid to empower other women fighting for justice after what she describes as a “deeply traumatising experience”.
He had denied he digitally raped his friend’s girlfriend at his Melbourne home in the early hours of January 14, 2024.
With the man now behind bars, the woman released a statement today sharing her relief that the 12 jurors returned with a guilty verdict.
“Two years filled with tears, fear and some of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” she said.
“I finally got the outcome, the verdict, I’ve been praying months on end for.
“A jury heard me and believed me.”
The man was convicted of two counts of rape following a 10-day trial.
He sexually assaulted the victim twice in a dark room whilst pretending to be a friend who the victim was in a relationship with.
The man then doctored an Uber receipt to cover his tracks.
The victim described the legal system as one that can feel “impossible”, but said “the empowerment I feel today has made it all worth it”.
The maximum penalty for one count of rape is 25 years behind bars.
The case will return to court for a plea hearing next week before the judge hands down his sentence.
The woman said she was speaking out in the hope she could empower others who had suffered from sexual abuse.
“If you’re fighting for justice, or trying to find the courage to speak up, I’m standing with you,” she said.
“Don’t underestimate your strength.”
