WARNING: The following story may be distressing. If you or someone you know needs to speak to someone about harassment, assault, or rape, you can speak to Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
After delivering a not guilty plea earlier this week, three men have been found guilty at Brisbane District Court with the rape of a teenager at an Australia Day party in Brisbane in 2015.
The three 21-year-old men, Bailey Hayes-Gordon, Jacob Watson, and Nicholas Jackson, were convicted of the rape of a 19-year-old man with a bottle at the party while he was unconscious.
A fourth co-accused, Frazer Eaton, took a guilty plea for holding the man’s shoulders during the assault in February, and dodged an 18-month jail term.
During the four-day trial, Judge Anthony Rafter had to request the public gallery remain quiet, as many supporters shouted from the gallery, including one woman yelling that she intended to self-harm, and another exclaiming that Eaton is a “liar.”
Over the course of the trial, Hayes-Gordon gave testimony, claiming that the dynamic between the friendship group is known as “prankish”, and denied penetrating the victim, despite social media comments stating otherwise.
The footage was allegedly shared through Snapchat and Facebook Messenger by Hayes-Gordon, with the caption “(The complainant) passed out so we stuck a bottle up his arse and he just took it … Funniest thing I’ve ever seen, legit.”
Watson and Jackson did not give evidence.
We’ll provide an update once the hearing resumes at 2:30pm this afternoon.
Source: Brisbane Times.
Photo: Getty / Chris Hopkins.
