Eddie Elia Comi Dap Epseg: Woman claims she ‘choked on own bile’ during alleged rape

The woman who alleges a Cairns rugby league player raped her says she “choked on her own bile” during the alleged incident.

The woman claims the man raped her anally and vaginally with a bottle and a vibrator.

The woman who alleges Cairns rugby league player Eddie Epseg raped her says he choked her until she “choked on her own bile”.

However, he maintains the entire act, which took place over four hours on August 1, was entirely consensual, and his barrister told the court the woman’s evidence was “unreliable … and at some point untruthful”.

Eddie Epseg denies all nine charges against him.

Mr Epseg, a former Edmonton Storm player, denies the eight charges of rape and one charge of choking the Parramatta Park woman.

Crown Prosecutor Rachel Boivin told the court the woman “was choked to the point she could not breathe, to the point where she choked on her own bile – she said she believed she was going to die”.

In her closing address, Ms Boivin said Mr Epseg had his hands around the woman’s throat and put his fingers in her mouth.

Ms Boivin said the man repeatedly told the woman “not to move and to stay there” as he did this.

Ms Boivin told the jury Mr Epseg raped the woman before telling her he was a “monster”.

Mr Boivin said he also told the complainant he “felt like a porn star” and for her to call him “X” during the act.

She told the jury that he tied her hands and blindfolded her at one stage during the four-hour encounter.

“She was certain about one thing and that was consent, she did not consent to the conduct that occurred,” Ms Boivin said.

Ms Boivin told the jury that when the woman told Mr Epseg to “stop” and that “it hurt” multiple times, he continued.

However, Mr Epseg’s lawyer argued the woman consented.

Barrister Joseph Jacobs told the jury the complainant did not call out for help, texted Mr Epseg “doing the washing boring. Lol” after the incident and gave “weak and unreliable evidence”.

“She knew it was consensual, even though it may have gotten a bit rough,” he said.

“She didn’t call for help because it was consensual sex.”

Mr Jacobs told the jury that the complainant had consented to “rough sex”.

He further argued she agreed to be blindfolded and have her hands tied – and tendered several text messages claiming they indicated her consent.

“A friend put the idea of (that Mr Epseg had) raped her in her mind … it was a seed planted in her mind.”

He said that her “evidence was … at some point, I would suggest to you, untruthful”.

Mr Jacobs argued the woman had “motives to lie”, including that Mr Epseg owed her $100.

The jury is due to return its verdict this week.

Eddie Epseg denies all charges against him.

Originally published as Eddie Elia Comi Dap Epseg: Woman claims she ‘choked on own bile’ during alleged rape