BOOZE AND GANG RAPE
Bail denied as court hears girl assaulted in car at cane paddock
THE alleged gang rape of a teenage girl in a cane paddock is “shocking and traumatic” if proven, a magistrate said while denying bail to one of the accused in Cairns.
Five men have been charged with the repeated sexual assault of the 16year-old girl on December 28.
The Cairns Magistrates Court heard details of the alleged attack for the first time yesterday when it emerged the group is alleged to have gotten the teen drunk at a residence in Cairns to the point where she passed out.
Police prosecutor Sen-Constable Trevor Woodman said the men then allegedly drove her to a cane paddock where she was raped by members of the group in the boot of the car.
He said it was alleged as the attacks were taking place the girl yelled out: “you’re all raping mother (expletive), get off me raping mother (expletive)”.
She eventually managed to get away, picked up her underwear and ran towards the cane field, but when she fell over one of the men allegedly brought her back to the car.
The court heard they drove her back into town before leaving her in the Cairns CBD.
“If the allegations are substantiated they are shocking and they are traumatic,” Magistrate Nerida Wilson said.
One of the men, a 32-yearold labourer, made a bid for bail with duty solicitor Nicholas Pagonis arguing prior to this alleged incident his criminal history was limited.
He said his client had accepted he had been with the girl that night, but denied the rape took place and said her version of the night may be affected due to her intoxication.
He told the court the man has not had contact with the girl either before or since the night.
But Sen-Constable Woodman described the police case as “strong” and said the man was a risk of interfering with witnesses if allowed bail.
Magistrate Wilson said the case was “serious enough” to refuse bail.
Three other men appeared in court last week charged as co-offenders with one of them released on bail, but on strict conditions to have no contact with the girl and report to police.
One of them was alleged to be the girl’s partner.
Another man, aged 33, also appeared in court yesterday, but did not make a bail application.
Yesterday’s matters were adjourned until January 24.