Craig Rumsby trial: attempted rape complainant gives evidence
A man has told a court he smashed a plate over the head of a male who allegedly attempted to rape his then-girlfriend. The alleged attacker is also on trial for the alleged murder of teen Michelle Bright.
Dubbo News
Don't miss out on the headlines from Dubbo News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A man told a court he smashed a plate on the man charged with murdering 17-year-old Michelle Bright in 1999 as the accused killer allegedly attempted to rape another teen the year before.
Craig Rumsby, 56, is facing trial at the NSW Supreme Court sitting at Dubbo Courthouse over the murder of Miss Bright, and the alleged rape of another 18-year-old western NSW teen, who cannot be identified.
He has pleaded not guilty to both offences.
The now 43-year-old Gulgong woman who was allegedly choked in the course of the attempted rape in 1998 gave evidence via audiovisual link.
The court heard the woman was waiting for a friend to deliver some cannabis near her home when a man – allegedly Rumsby – approached her and hit her in the face while grabbing her throat on Herbert St in Gulgong.
The woman’s former partner also gave evidence that he had intercepted the attack and smashed the male perpetrator’s head with a plate, leaving him in fear he had killed him.
The complainant’s ex also told the court Rumsby’s driver’s licence was allegedly found at the scene after the shocking attack unfolded.
Crown prosecutor Lee Carr questioned the complainant, who said she was “screaming” at the time while Rumsby allegedly tried to take off her underwear and lifted her white dress above her waist.
In her evidence, the woman told the jurors that he “opened” her legs and was on top of her.
When she was cross-examined by defence barrister Nicholas Broadbent, the woman stated she reported the incident to the police but did not take it further until 2019 because she “did not want to go to court”.
After her initial statement on the early hours of New Year’s Day in 1998, the woman supplied a second statement on September 10, 2019.
The next witness to enter the room was her then-partner who was celebrating New Year’s Eve with her, with the court hearing they were living together in Gulgong at the time.
The 57-year-old man said once he was made aware of his partner’s screams, he went outside and “saw someone on top of her”.
“She was on her back - he had his hands over her mouth,” the man said.
“He had his knees down and was holding her to the ground.
“I picked up a checker plate and hit him over the head with it – I thought I killed him, so I stopped.”
The man told the court the man – allegedly Rumsby – looked at him and ran away once he was hit, while he was screaming “get the f*ck off her”.
He then chased the man along Herbert St before losing him, at which point Rumsby allegedly ran into a residential property and jumped over a fence.
Both witnesses told the court that after the incident they went to Gulgong Police Station to report the alleged assault and the woman was then photographed.
The woman’s ex then told the court he, his then-girlfriend and police went for a drive around the township in search of the man responsible.
The male witness told the court officers questioned Rumsby, then proceeded to drop the couple at their unit.
The male witness said he then went back to the scene of the incident and allegedly found Rumsby’s driver’s licence before he returned to the police station.
The trial continues.
Meet the talented young artists from ARTEXPRESS 2025
The annual art exhibition which shows some of the most outstanding and exemplary artworks across NSW by HSC visual arts students has opened. Meet the students and see their amazing works.
E-bike rider seriously injured in cop chase
A police pursuit in Dubbo was brought to a halt when an alleged fleeing e-bike rider plunged off an embankment and smashed into a creek bed, leaving him with serious injuries.