Cairns courts: Jury finds two men not guilty of Cooktown ‘threesome’ rape in Cairns District Court

After a trial lasting three days, a jury did not take long to deliver a verdict for two Far North men accused of raping a woman in what they described as a “threesome”.

Two men accused of raping a woman at Cooktown in 2019 have been found not guilty in Cairns District Court on Thursday following a three-day trial.

The jury began deliberating on Wednesday afternoon and delivered its verdict at 11.30am on Thursday.

Defence barristers for the two men, who cannot be named as it might identify the woman, argued the threesome which occurred after a night of heavy drinking and smoking cannabis, was consensual.

Defence barrister Kelly Goodwin had urged jurors there was no other conclusion they could come to than that there was reasonable doubt of the defendants’ guilt.

Defence barrister Tim Grau said the woman’s evidence was inconsistent.

The Cairns courthouse.

“She embellished, she exaggerated, I suggest she actually made up details. The story gets a life of its own,” Mr Grau said.

“We know she lied from the outset.”

Crown prosecutor Jodie Crane had stated the woman was in her own home with men she should have been able to trust and that there was no consent for sex.

“What she remembers are the important parts, the significant parts. Ultimately she was an honest witness,” Ms Crane said.

Ms Crane told jurors the complainant had said “no” up to a point in the evening, after which she froze and did nothing.

Judge Gregory Lynham presided over the trial.

Originally published as Cairns courts: Jury finds two men not guilty of Cooktown ‘threesome’ rape in Cairns District Court