Tinder date rape trial: Canadian Thierry Canape, 38, accused of waterfall assault gives evidence

A Canadian landscaper facing trial after allegedly sexually assaulting and orally raping a woman during a Tinder date to a secluded waterfall has told a jury he bit her on the bottom in what he believed was consensual intimacy.

Thierry Canape, 38, has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault and one count of rape as he faces trial accused of biting and orally raping a woman he matched with on Tinder in August last year.

A Canadian landscaper facing trial after allegedly sexually assaulting and orally raping a woman during a Tinder date to a secluded waterfall has told a jury he bit her on the bottom in what he believed was consensual intimacy.

Thierry Canape, 38, has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault and one count of rape as he faces trial accused of biting and orally raping a woman he matched with on Tinder in August last year.

The pair matched on the popular dating app before starting a conversation on Instagram where Mr Canape, who said he was a rainforest tour guide, invited to take her to a waterfall on the outskirts of Cairns.

The court heard Mr Canape took the woman to Stoney Creek where the prosecutor alleged he bit her on the bottom causing her to “yelp in pain” before sexually assaulting her as they walked back to his car after swimming.

The complainant’s evidence was played to the jury in closed court on Friday.

Mr Canape’s defence counsel James Sheridan told the court everything that occurred was done with the belief the woman was consenting based on what had occurred during the date.

Mr Canape took to the stand to present his version of events for the jury on Monday.

He confirmed the age on his Tinder profile, 31, was incorrect but explained it was because he had made his account many years ago and it could not be changed.

When cross examined by crown prosecutor Tegan Grasso, Mr Canape said he didn’t tell the woman his real age because “it didn’t come up”.

He told the court the pair swam and he took photos of her on her phone before they sat with her on his lap and they kissed.

A waterfall at Stoney Creek, in the world heritage listed Wet Tropics rainforest near Cairns in Far North Queensland. Picture: Brendan Radke

“We kissed back and forth, she didn’t seem uncomfortable,” he said.

Mr Canape said that at one point the woman straddled him and they kissed before they decided to leave as they were getting cold and hungry.

He told the court he did bite the woman “gently” on the bottom and made a joke saying “I know what’s better than a burger”.

When asked by Ms Grasso how the woman reacted to this Mr Canape said she didn’t react and kept moving to pick up her things.

“She said she was cold and I offered for her to have a hot shower back at my place and to give her a massage,” Mr Canape said.

Mr Canape told the court on the path back to the car he told the woman to wait as she stepped up an embankment in front of him when the alleged sexual assault occurred.

“She said ‘hey’ and I stopped immediately,” he said.

“I said ‘Sorry, I got carried away’.”

The barristers will present their closing statements on Tuesday before the jury will retire to consider their verdict.

Originally published as Tinder date rape trial: Canadian Thierry Canape, 38, accused of waterfall assault gives evidence