Private Maya Rose Mitchell’s blackmail, acts of indecency trial enters day two

A hot and heavy audiotape has been played in a military court trial where a young female private is accused of blackmailing a colleague for sex at a NSW army base.

Private Maya Rose Mitchell leaving her General Court Martial on August 8, 2023. Picture: Sam Turner

A bombshell recording has been aired at a military court trial of a female private accused of blackmailing a colleague for sex.

The tribunal heard Mitchell allegedly grabbed the throat of the complainant, put her hand over his mouth and said words to the effect of “if you don’t f*** me I’m going to the corporals”.

The 21-year-old female private is then alleged to have touched the complainant’s groin or thigh area before kissing him and threatening to “end” him during an alleged encounter at a NSW army base.

The audio recording was played at a General Court Martial in Canberra on Tuesday where Private Maya Rose Mitchell has pleaded not guilty seven charges and the alternatives which involved alleged acts of indecency and blackmail of a colleague.

The tribunal previously heard the alleged encounter transpired at the complainant’s dorm after a night of drinking, when the complainant offered his bed to Mitchell because she did not have her room key, while he took the couch.

Major Adam Mason for the prosecution alleged Mitchell committed the acts of indecency when she was on top of him after she had a shower.

Private Maya Rose Mitchell.

The complainant texted a friend during the incident before he recorded audio of the latter half of the alleged encounter.

In the recording – which was played to the tribunal on Tuesday – Mitchell sounded as if she was slurring her words and allegedly asking the complainant to have sex with her.

“What’s wrong with you … you’re wasting my time,” Mitchell allegedly said on the recording.

“Do you find me attractive or not,” she said in between long pauses of kissing.

Private Maya Rose Mitchell.

Mitchell allegedly said they could deny their encounter as gossip and admitted she had just broken up with her girlfriend and wanted to “explore” her sexuality.

During the complainant’s evidence he continued to state he did not give consent.

Defence barrister Major Dan Coombes scoured through the complainant’s texts to friends and said he consented to being kissed by Mitchell and wanted to have sex with her, relying on a text the complainant sent to another colleague saying he could “turn her” to like men.

Private Maya Rose Mitchell leaving on day one of the trial. Picture: Sam Turner

Three witnesses were cross examined, including a colleague of the complainant who was spoken to the day after the alleged incident.

The defence put to the colleague he did not hear Mitchell’s alleged Corporal comment on the recording despite saying he had in his statement, and that he had only believed what the complainant had told him about the recording.

Another colleague of Mitchell also gave evidence stating the complainant “repeatedly” asked him to “put in a good word” with the female private.

Mitchell’s colleague said the complainant – who he described as a “rich boy” with a “playboy attitude” – thought he could “convert [Mitchell] from one sexuality to another”.

Closing remarks will be heard on Wednesday.