Woman allegedly beaten, raped, forced into boot and dumped on side of city road

CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses allegations of sexual assault and abuse.

A man has been granted bail after a woman accused him of raping and assaulting her before shoving her into the boot of his car and then dumping her on the side of a central Canberra road.

Court documents allege the man, aged in his late 20s, invited the woman over to his home to watch a movie one night in May 2022, then after she arrived, he took cocaine and drank alcohol while they watched the television series Power.

The woman said when she made a comment comparing him to a character in the show, he allegedly “became enraged”.

She alleged he ripped chunks of hair from her scalp and threw her to the ground, despite her begging him to stop.

She also alleged he put her into a “choke hold”, then when she tried to leave, he held her down, put a pillow over her head and punched it repeatedly until she lost consciousness.

The woman alleged when she woke up, she ran to the door to try to escape, but he choked her into unconsciousness again. When she woke up the second time, she was being put into the boot of his car, where he sexually assaulted her.

She claimed she tried to get out of the boot, but he closed the door, trapping her inside, then drove off “erratically”.

In the early hours of the morning, he allegedly pulled over at Glenloch Interchange in Canberra’s city centre, dragged her out of the boot, left her on the ground, then got back into his car and drove off.

She said she didn’t have her phone or wallet. She was helped by a person in a red car the police have not yet identified and was taken to the City Police Station.

The man was charged with sexual intercourse without consent, assault, choking and unlawful confinement. He is fighting the allegations.

When he appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court over audio-visual link on Friday (1 July), his barrister, Slade Howell, said he would apply for bail.

It was the first such application because he had not asked to be released when he first appeared in court in May.

Mr Howell said his client had a limited criminal history while the woman had an extensive one.

Magistrate James Lawton said the pair had a “turbulent history”, including a number of previous allegations made by the woman for which the man had never been charged.

He said bail conditions could reduce the risks of reoffending and granted his release, with conditions including he live in south Canberra, not contact the woman and not consume alcohol or drugs.

The man will next appear in court in August. He has not been named to protect the identity of the complainant.