Carlton great Stephen Silvagni breaks silence after youngest son convicted of rape
Carlton great Stephen Silvagni has broken his silence after his youngest son was convicted of rape, choking back tears as he vowed to clear his name.
Carlton great Stephen Silvagni has broken his silence after his youngest son was convicted of rape, saying the family’s goal was to “clear his name and bring him home”.
Speaking outside the County Court on Friday, Stephen choked back tears as he declared that his son, Tom Silvagni, maintained his innocence and would be considering an appeal.
He was supported by his wife, Jo, as he read a short statement to the awaiting media.
“Jo and I, together with our family members and friends, are so disappointed with the outcome,” he said.
“We all love and support our son.
“Our son continues to maintain his innocence.
“We stand firmly behind him.
“We will be considering our options to appeal.
“Our goal is to clear his name and bring him home.”
He added that his family was “very grateful” for the support, but became too emotional to continue.
“Sorry, guys,” he said as he walked away, seemingly wiping away tears.
Earlier, his 23-year-old son faced a pre-sentence hearing in the County Court after he was convicted by a jury of two counts of rape last Friday.
His defence barrister David Hallowes SC conceded that his client would be jailed for the “serious” crime he had committed.
“There was some planning and strategy engaged in from the moment the opportunity arose,” Judge Lyon added.
But Mr Hallowes urged Judge Lyon to hand down a sentence with a non-parole period that would allow Silvagni to see “some light” at the end of the tunnel.
He pointed to his “loving and supporting family”, his youth and lack of prior convictions as factors in his favour.
The court heard he worked as an AFL player agent at KAPITAL Sports Group before he was charged and also coached a young football team as a volunteer.
Mr Hallowes tendered several good character references from Silvagni’s loved ones, as well as psychiatric reports.
According to the reports, a stint behind bars was likely to have an “adverse effect” on Silvagni’s mental health and further exacerbate his symptoms.
Mr Hallowes added that while Silvagni was the “author of his own misfortune”, the “intense media scrutiny” was also a factor in his favour because it demonstrated “extra curial punishment”.
“Mr Silvagni has been concerned about that publicity ... not so much from a selfish point of view ... but in terms of his family,” Mr Hallowes said.
The court heard he is in lockdown 23 hours a day at Melbourne Assessment Prison and, once sentenced, is likely to be moved to medium-security prison Hopkins Correctional Centre.
Mr Hallowes said his family had not yet been able to visit him.
“Every hour of every day in the prison system is a living hell,” Judge Lyon remarked.
Silvagni will be sentenced on Wednesday.
Originally published as Carlton great Stephen Silvagni breaks silence after youngest son convicted of rape
