Alan George Vico rape case retrial date pencilled in for September 5

Fresh details about the evidence that will be shared have been revealed ahead of a former Cairns executive’s retrial for the alleged rape of a Norwegian tourist.

The Cairns Courthouse. Alan George Vico’s matter will be reviewed on February 28. Picture: Brendan Radke.

THE retrial of a former Ports North executive, whose conviction for rape was quashed on appeal, could last up to eight days with the court hesitant to lock in a date for the matter.

Alan George Vico’s matter was mentioned in the Cairns District Court on Wednesday where the court deliberated over circumstances affecting the defendant’s retrial.

Mr Vico’s appeal against his trial and 5.5 year sentence was successful in April last year, after he had previously been convicted in August 2020, for raping a Norwegian tourist he’d picked up on the side of the road in 2018.

Mr Vico was convicted after a judge-only trial was heard by judge Julie Dick, but Appeal Court Justice David Boddice in April, 2021 ruled there had been “deficiencies in the trial judge’s reasons,” before ordering a retrial.

Wednesday’s mention heard before Judge Dean Morzone revealed Mr Vico wished to have a jury trial, with his lawyer telling the court the new trial could last in excess of eight days.

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“There are 12 prosecution witnesses,” Mr Vico’s lawyer said.

“My expectation is that my client will now give evidence. My view of the trial is that the evidence would be lucky to be completed in five hearing days and on top of that, with addresses, summing up, it’s my submission that the jury may not go out to the eight or ninth hearing day.”

Adding to the scheduling challenge, the prosecution flagged with the court it would be applying to prerecord the evidence of the complainant – recognised as a special witness.

Judge Morzone set a review date of the matter for February 28, and set the date for the trial to hear the prerecorded evidence, subject to application, to March 8.

The trial proper was pencilled in for the sittings commencing September 5, subject to the review.

Originally published as Alan George Vico rape case retrial date pencilled in for September 5