Woman sought help from ANU staff after alleged university assault

CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to alleged family violence.

A woman allegedly assaulted by a man in an Australian National University (ANU) car park this week asked staff for help.

A court heard the pair was visiting Canberra to research the possibility of moving to the national capital.

The 42-year-old man, not named to protect the woman’s identity, was charged with assault and going equipped for theft before he was refused bail.

ACT Policing said the pair drove a Nissan X-Trail to the Baldessin car park at ANU about 4 am on Wednesday (7 August).

After getting out of the car, the man allegedly assaulted the woman. She then sought help from a nearby worker and ANU security staff as the man left the scene.

The alleged assault was reported to police about 2 pm. Officers then spoke with witnesses and viewed ANU security camera footage.

Officers found the man on Mort Street, Braddon about 11 pm that night and arrested him.

He applied for bail in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday (8 August), which was opposed by the prosecution. It claimed the man was likely to allegedly reoffend and endanger the woman’s safety and welfare.

The man’s defence lawyer from Legal Aid said her client was from northern NSW and the pair was visiting Canberra to view the city as a potential place to live.

She argued bail conditions could mitigate the risks of her client being in the community and he could live in a hotel.

But the prosecutor said the man had no ties to the ACT and argued the alleged assault was “very concerning”.

She said police had reported that when officers came across the woman at a 7-Eleven store, the woman didn’t want to speak to them, claimed she wasn’t assaulted and left.

The prosecutor argued the risk to the woman’s safety was too high for bail to be granted. A “cooling-off” period could be beneficial for the pair, she said.

Special Magistrate Rebecca Christensen SC accepted this period was one of heightened risk for the woman and said there was a suggestion of a serious form of alleged family violence.

She said the woman had reported she felt safe with the man, but the circumstances of the alleged offending and how it came to the attention of police was of concern to the court.

Bail was refused and the man was remanded in custody to next face court on 23 August. No pleas were entered.

ACT Policing wants to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the alleged incident. Witnesses can contact Crime Stoppers by calling 1800 333 000, quoting reference 7818877.

Anyone impacted by sexual, domestic or family violence can contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or Full Stop Australia on 1800 385 578. Local support services include the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service (DVCS) on 6280 0900, and Victim Support ACT on 1800 822 272 or 6205 2022.