SA rape survivor tells court she has chosen to forgive sex offender Hayas Kardo so she can heal from his depraved criminal act

This man still denies raping a woman as she slept, but she has decided to forgive him, a court has heard – so she can start to heal from his ‘depraved’ assault.

A chef who was raped while relaxing in a spa bath says she has “no room in my heart” to hate the man whose “selfish, depraved act” devastated her life.

On Thursday, the woman told the District Court she had decided to forgive convicted rapist Hayas Kardo.

Giving her victim impact statement in person, she told Kardo – who watched from the dock – that she wanted to hear him apologise, but knew he would never do so.

“You continue to deny what you did that day, when you and I both well know what you did … you can still not be a man and own up,” she said.

“I have no room in my heart for hate so, today, I choose to forgive you for what you’ve done – because I deserve to be free of hate, free of fear and free of despair.

“Today I choose to begin my path to healing, and it begins right now.”

Hayas Kardo outside court during his trial. Picture: Kathryn Birmingham.

Kardo, 63, was found guilty at trial of rape and indecent assault.

In September 2018, he sexually assaulted a woman, 27, as she napped in one of the spa pools at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre.

The woman, who was tired from having worked an early shift, woke to discover Kardo using the spa’s bubbles to conceal his assault upon her – but it was caught on CCTV.

On Thursday, the woman said Kardo’s actions had ruined her promising career as a head chef, her relationship with her former partner, her health and her mental wellbeing.

“You will never truly understand how the impact of your selfish and depraved act that day has affected me,” she said.

“I’m an amazing and very passionate chef, but I was let go soon after the incident because of crippling anxiety and panic attacks.

“The thought of another person standing too close to me spirals me into a panic … I wonder if they will attack me like you did that day.”

Kardo, left, denied the allegations but was found guilty at trial. Picture: Nine News.

She told Kardo that he would have “a lot of time” to reflect upon his crime while serving a sentence.

“I hope you find it in your heart to really reflect on what I’ve said here today … I wonder if you’re ever going to be able to forgive yourself,” she said.

Judge Liesl Chapman thanked the woman for her statement.

“From where I’m sitting, you are a very strong woman,” she said.

She remanded Kardo in custody for further submissions next month.