Closing submissions detailed in Paralympian Cameron Rahles-Rahbula’s child abuse material case
A former Paralympian’s guilt or innocence of child abuse charges will hinge on whether an iPhone 11 recording was deliberately or accidentally activated.
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A former Paralympian accused of filming a teenage female student at Geelong Grammar School will soon learn his fate, with the case hinging on whether an iPhone 11 recording was intentionally or accidentally activated.
Closing submissions were delivered in Geelong Magistrates Court on Friday in the case of dual Paralympic bronze medallist Cameron Rahles-Rahbula, who is facing serious child abuse material charges.
Mr Rahles-Rahbula, a flag-bearer for Australia at two winter Paralympic Games and a former Geelong Grammar student, has pleaded not guilty to attempting to produce child abuse material.
The 39-year-old has told the court he does not dispute there was a recording on his phone of a topless 17-year-old student made during a physiotherapy appointment, but argues this was done unintentionally.
It is alleged the student noticed the video during the appointment in October 2021 and reported it to the school immediately.
Both the prosecution and defence told the court on Friday Mr Rahles-Rahbula’s guilt or innocence rested on the matter of intent.
Leading Senior Constable Prosecutor Kerrie Maroney said evidence presented to the court showed “it was a deliberate act of videoing the complainant”.
“It is very clear that the accused places the phone on the bench, he places it in a position that captures the entirety of the massage bench that the complainant is lying on,” she said.
“It is clear he reaches for a wallet and props the phone up.
“He then leaves the room at the time the complainant gets off the bench and puts her clothing back on.”
Police allege a towel was placed in front of the camera after the complainant discovered it, “to conceal it.” The accused then deleted the video.
Ms Maroney said the defence had not proved the recording happened accidentally and how the video function on the iPhone could be accidentally activated without using “at least three” actions.
“It is not pocket-dialled,” she said.
Mr Rahles-Rahbula’s defence team told the court he positioned the phone upright next to a tissue box to maximise its chances of getting good phone reception, and maintained the recording started unintentionally.
They argued it was “completely plausible” for Mr Rahles-Rahbula to put the towel in front of the phone “smoothed down” due to the stage of the physiotherapy treatment.
They also questioned the prosecution using the fact he deleted the video as evidence of guilt, arguing “if one accidentally photographs or videos something, one deletes it.”
Magistrate Simon Guthrie said he would need to review the footage and the iPhone before handing down his decision.
The matter was adjourned until March 9.
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Originally published as Closing submissions detailed in Paralympian Cameron Rahles-Rahbula’s child abuse material case
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