Adelaide singer Patrick Bannah, known as Loverboy, still promoting concert despite rape conviction
Adelaide singer Loverboy is still promoting his all-night anniversary concert – which costs up to $2100 a ticket – despite being convicted of the rape of a teen girl.
North & North East
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An award-winning recording artist is still promoting his all-night Adelaide concert scheduled for later this month, despite being convicted of a horrific sexual assault.
Patrick Morie Bannah, 28, now faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment after a jury on Wednesday found him guilty of rape and attempted rape of a 15-year-old girl.
Bannah’s co-accused Jonathan Zahinda, 26, was found guilty of rape and dissuading a witness after both men stood trial in the District Court.
After the jury’s verdict on Wednesday, the men, who were allowed to remain on bail, were ordered to surrender their passports and not consume any drugs or alcohol.
If the concert goes ahead, it could be Bannah’s final chance to share his music with his fans for a while, as his bail may be revoked at sentencing submissions on December 19.
Bannah, who goes by the stage name of ‘ConCcoins’ or ‘Loverboy’ is a recording artist and a music engineer after debuting in 2012.
His musical style is dance Afrobeats releasing four songs under ConCcoins and ten singles with his Loverboy name, including “We Outside”, “VIP”, “Overdose”, “High Me”, “Judge”, and “Legitimate Man”.
Prior to his conviction Bannah planned a ‘10 Years with Loverboy’ anniversary concert scheduled for November 25 at Ingle Farm.
His Facebook post promoting the event had a caption saying, “Show class, have pride, and display character. November 25th I give you my all.”
The event description promises an “unforgettable” evening and “mind-blowing” show that will make you dance all night long.
“Get ready to sing along to your favourite hits and experience the energy and passion of the Loverboy,” the event reads.
“This event is a fantastic opportunity to relive the nostalgia and create new memories with friends and fellow music enthusiasts.
“Don’t miss out on this epic celebration! Grab your tickets now and secure your spot at the most anticipated event of the year. Get ready to rock!”
The nine-hour event is organised by Kings and Queens – which states its mission is to be one of the top event hosts in Australia, and tickets are still available.
They range from last-chance tickets at $54 to VIP tickets costing a whopping $2119, which includes five free entries and various alcoholic beverages, including don Julio tequila and Hennessy VSOP.
Kings and Queens were contacted by The Advertiser about whether the event would still go ahead and what its policies were on allowing artists who have been accused or convicted of sexual offences to perform.
They did not respond in time for publication.
The trial
Ahura Kalali, for the prosecution, told the court in his opening statement the victim was at an 18th birthday party in an Adelaide Airbnb apartment in October 2020.
The court heard the victim drank alcohol for the first time and tried cannabis before going into one of the bedrooms.
Mr Kalali said Bannah then came into the bedroom and started touching the alleged victim’s genitalia, with her telling him to stop.
The court heard Bannah then tried to penetrate the victim’s anus and said “Have you done this before? I don’t want you to s**t on me”.
Mr Kalali said Zahinda then came into the bedroom later in the evening and also raped the girl.
Mistaken identity, said defence
In her closing statement, Michelle Barnes, for Bannah, told the court a photograph of her client on the night of the party didn’t match the victim’s description of what the perpetrator was wearing.
The court heard Bannah’s tattoo sleeve – which was identified by the victim – was covered by his jacket and he was wearing a black T-shirt and not a white button up shirt as described.
Ms Barnes said the victim looked at the Instagram profile of Mr Bannah after the incident and her memory would have been influenced.
“In her mind from that moment is imprinted that that’s the man she saw at the party,” she said.
“Identification evidence, particularly involving strangers, is notoriously unreliable.”
Ms Barnes said there were several other men at the party who could have committed the assault and the alleged victim was intoxicated so her evidence was unreliable and she was “mistaken”.
Tattoo sleeve linked Bannah to rape
However, in his closing statement, Mr Kalali said even though the victim was intoxicated at the time of the rapes, what she recalled in her testimony about the sexual assaults was “vivid, graphic and detailed”.
“She says the male with the sleeve tattoo came into the room,” he said.
“She saw him because the light was on and he closed the door and switched the light off.”
Mr Kalali said the victim had met Bannah earlier in the night and he tried to speak with her a lot.
“You might think, in the night, she got a good look at him. She saw his face and described it,” he said.
“The tattoo on Mr Bannah was on show that night. Jackets can come off.
“The only thing that she does say is that she saw the tattoo and this is what it all boils down to.”
In her evidence, the party host said she also saw Bannah’s sleeve tattoo, which had writing or script, on the night of the party.
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