Fourth man arrested over Hindley Street carpark gang rape of two women

A fourth man has been charged with rape over a shocking attack on two women in a Hindley St carpark – and also allegedly tried to silence the victims.

A fourth man has been arrested over the alleged gang rape of two women in the stairwell of a Hindley St carpark – and further accused of offering his victims $4000 to lie about the incident.

However the man, 21, says he has done nothing wrong, telling a court there are “two sides to every story” but he will “keep his powder dry” about the drug-and-alcohol-fuelled incident for now.

Meanwhile the state’s top police officer urged anyone with video of the events leading up to or surrounding the incident to come forward.

The man, of Clearview, was arrested by SA Police detectives overnight and faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday.

He joins two other men – a 20-year-old of no fixed address and a 23-year-old of Kensington – and a youth, 17, who have also been charged with two counts of engaging in sexual intercourse without consent.

In addition, a second youth has been accused of offering to pay one of the victims to prevent her going to police – on Wednesday, he was granted police bail.

That teenager, 17, of Newton, is the first of the group of accused to be granted bail and released into the community.

The third man - 23-year-old from Kensington - is marched by detectives to the City Watchhouse. Picture: 7NEWS

BREAKING: A fourth man charged over the alleged gang rape of two women in a Hindley Street stairwell is accused of indirectly offering $4000 cash to a victim as a bribe to give false evidence, a Adelaide court has heard. The latest in 7NEWS at 6pm | https://t.co/LAnN4kaTga#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/Y6afWYwE0C

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) December 8, 2022

It is unclear whether police allege he was present at the time of the alleged assault, or was only believed to have contacted the victim.

He will appear in the Youth Court for the first time in January.

In court on Thursday, SA police prosecutors alleged the 17-year-old was directed to contact one of the victims by the 21-year-old two days after the incident.

They alleged the teenager offered the victim $4000 to “either not give evidence or give false evidence in this matter”.

They said the victim immediately contacted police who attended the home of the 21-year-old and arrested him after finding $4000 cash on the premises.

James Noblett, for the 21-year-old, said those allegations were “very weak” and no reason to deny his client home detention bail.

Magistrate Justin Wickens agreed somewhat, saying the man had “bigger problems”.

“I would have thought the major problem for you was that one of the two victims has identified your client as the person who was doing these things to her and her friend,” he said.

Mr Noblett said his client “emphatically denied” the allegations.

“Your Honour is aware there are two sides to every story and that will come out in due time, so I will keep my powder dry,” he said

“Even on the version of events produced by the victims there is alcohol, volumes of alcohol, involved as well as cannabis.”

Previously, the court has heard the two alleged victims were walking past the Hotel Plaza carpark in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The Plaza Hotel carpark on Hindley Street, where the women were raped. Picture: Shashi Baltutis

It is alleged they were offered alcohol and cannabis by some men and, when they accepted, were pulled into the carpark’s stairwell, at least one “by the hair” as she screamed.

It is further alleged the women were gang-raped by seven men – some of whom committed sex acts while others watched – for half an hour, despite their demands to be released.

The court also heard one of the women escaped but, realising her friend had not, returned to rescue her – only to be grabbed and gang-raped a second time.

The Plaza Hotel carpark on Hindley Street, where the women were raped. Picture: Shashi Baltutis

The third man arrested is a 23-yaer-old man Kensington. Picture: 7NEWS

The other men and youth arrested over the alleged incident have all been remanded in custody.

The identities of the men have been made subject to interim suppression orders, while the youth cannot be named under state law.

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens asked anyone who had information about the incident to contact people.

“Anybody who believes they may have video recordings via CCTV or any other medium, we would encourage those people to come forward,” he said.

In court on Thursday Mr Wickens said he was prepared to order a home detention bail report about the 21-year-old despite the objections of police.

“I make no promises because I’ve not made up my mind whether he poses a risk that’s too great to the community at large or of interfering with the investigation,” he said.

He remanded the man in custody until next week and placed suppression order on his identity.

Originally published as Fourth man arrested over Hindley Street carpark gang rape of two women