Alleged rapist’s bail bid
A MAN accused of raping a woman inside a St Albans Park nursing home has launched a bid to be released on bail.
Shane Huici, 23, appeared on Monday at Melbourne Magistrates Court to seek his freedom in an application that is being strongly opposed by police.
The forklift driver has been in custody for the past four months since being charged following the alleged rape of an elderly resident at Tannoch Brae Aged Care.
Mr Huici, of St Albans Park, is accused of climbing into the facility through an unlocked window before allegedly raping the woman in her bed in the early hours of August 15.
The court has been told the police case against Mr Huici involved DNA and other evidence.
Detective Senior Constable Anthony Murphy, from the Sexual Crimes Squad, said police opposed Mr Huici being granted bail amid concern that he posed an unacceptable risk of endangering the community.
Mr Huici is charged with rape, aggravated burglary and recklessly causing serious injury.
The court heard the nursing home resident was asleep inside her room when she allegedly woke to find Mr Huici pinning her to the bed.
It is alleged Mr Huici orally raped the woman after telling her to “shut up” and say nothing.
He is also accused of placing his hands under the woman’s clothing and attempting to pull her pants down.
Constable Murphy said the woman managed to activate a personal duress alarm, which prompted a nurse to attend her room.
He said the nurse allegedly saw Mr Huici “straddling” the woman, before the accused man ran from the scene.
The woman was taken to hospital with injuries including a tear to her forearm and several cuts to her lip.
Police searched the vicinity of the area following the alleged rape, but were unable to find a suspect. Mr Huici was arrested the next day following a public appeal from police that included the release of a facial composite depicting the offender.
The prosecution alleges Mr Huici committed the rape after entering the aged care home through an unlocked window to a vacant room that was located in the same wing as the alleged victim.
The court heard Mr Huici’s fingerprints were allegedly located on the woman’s bedhead, as well as on internal and external windows in an adjacent room.
It is further alleged that a key to another room in the nursing home was found in Mr Huici’s bedside drawer.
Constable Murphy said sperm fractions taken following an examination of the victim also matched Mr Huici’s DNA profile.
The court was told Mr Huici was captured on CCTV attending a 21st birthday party at a bar in central Geelong hours before the alleged rape.
The accused man’s family has offered a $150,000 surety in support of his bail application.
The bail hearing will continue on Tuesday.