Jhonnattan Alexander Parra Martinez: Columbian student charged with raping woman after dance party

Police allege a Columbian student told the woman he’d drive her home but instead lured her to his South Sydney unit before allegedly raping her while she was unable to move, speak or open her eyes.

A Columbian national lured a woman back to his Wolli Creek apartment to “charge her phone” then raped her while she lay unconscious, a court has heard.

Jhonnattan Alexander Parra Martinez, 32, was granted bail when he appeared in Sutherland Local Court on Wednesday after he handed himself into police following a public appeal for information.

The court heard Martinez met a 27-year-old woman and her friend after a dance party in Bondi Junction in April before police allege he facilitated getting the woman back to his home under the pretence of charging her phone, police statement of facts tendered to court said.

Police allege shortly before the woman fell asleep she was given a drink by Martinez and he allegedly raped her, with the woman later telling investigators she was unable to move, speak or open her eyes.

The court heard Martinez had been in Australia for three years on a bridging visa and had been with his girlfriend for the past year.

Police allege Jhonnattan Alexander Parra Martinez raped a woman inside his Wolli Creek home. Picture: NSW Police

In the documents tendered to court, police alleged the woman and her friend organised to go to a dance party at a club in Bondi Junction on March 31.

They left the club about 2am before purchasing some food at a nearby 7/11 store, with the woman later telling police she was happy from the alcohol but aware of her surroundings, the documents said.

A short time later, Martinez and two male friends approached the women and they began talking, realising they had all been at the dance party.

Martinez allegedly offered to drive the women home telling them he lived at Wolli Creek and he and his friends were Uber drivers.

The women initially declined but then agreed to get a lift home because it was raining.

Martinez’s friend allegedly drove the group in his Kia Sportage before dropping off the female friend in Queens Park.

The alleged victim asked to be dropped home to Alexandria but was unfamiliar with the route because she did not drive.

She realised she was not being taken the right way home when they passed Sydney airport and said, “you missed my stop” but was reassured it was OK, the documents alleged. The woman’s phone battery was also low.

The driver stopped at an address in Wolli Creek and came back a few minutes later with a bottle of alcohol before they continued on.

Police appealed for public assistance during the investigation into an sexual assault in Sydney’s south. Picture: NSW Police

Martinez allegedly said “we will go to mine first to charge your phone” to which the woman replied, “please drop me home”.

The woman told police she became scared, did not know where she was and her phone battery was low.

The group went into a lift allegedly at Martinez’s apartment building before they began listening to music and the woman was offered a drink, the documents said.

Martinez allegedly gave her a glass which he said was lemonade. She took a few sips before going to get water. The woman told police she felt dizzy, sat on the lounge and fell asleep.

She was fully clothed and she allegedly felt extremely sleepy and wanted to move but she could not, the documents said.

The woman told police she felt like someone was allegedly lying on her, felt pain in her vagina and like something was moving in and out.

The woman allegedly tried to move but felt hands on her, adding she couldn’t open her eyes, the documents said.

The next day the woman allegedly woke up naked in a bedroom alone before she picked up her clothes, got dressed and walked into the rest of the apartment.

Martinez allegedly told the woman, “there’s a train if you want to go home”, pointing to Wolli Creek Railway Station.

The woman allegedly grabbed her phone and got the address from Martinez before she ordered an Uber and was taken home.

Police released images of Jhonnattan Martinez who allegedly raped a woman. Picture: NSW Police

The woman allegedly saw messages she sent to her friend that she could not remember typing.

She allegedly felt sick over the next few days and was stressed, believing she had been raped, the documents said.

The woman reported the alleged sexual assault to Mascot Police on April 4 and was taken to hospital for an examination kit, where she reportedly had bruises under her arms, on her thighs, and knee.

Police started investigating the report, allegedly obtaining CCTV from the dance club event, from 7/11 as well as the group walking to the car.

In June, police issued an appeal for information with images released of two men wanted for questioning as part of a sexual assault investigation.

The next day, Martinez and his friend went to Kogarah Police Station. They declined to be interviewed but agreed to provide their DNA.

Police allegedly tested the woman’s clothes and found Martinez’s DNA on her singlet, shorts and inside crotch of her underwear. The other man’s DNA was not identified on her clothing.

Police allege Jhonnattan Martinez met the woman at a 7/11 store. Picture: NSW Police

On Monday, August 8, Martinez was arrested, offered the services of a Spanish interpreter the next day because English is his second language before he was charged with one count of sexual intercourse without consent.

In court on Wednesday, police opposed releasing Martinez on bail submitting, as set out in the police facts, the prosecution case was strong and would rely on CCTV leading up to the alleged incident, they had witnesses and Martinez’s DNA was found on the woman’s clothing and in particular her underwear.

The prosecutor noted Martinez was facing a custodial sentence if convicted and was a potential flight risk given his visa status in Australia.

The court heard the woman was previously not known to Martinez before that night, and there was no ongoing relationship nor contact.

Martinez’s barrister Ben Barrack said his client had been in Australia for the past three years and was studying for a certificate three in business.

Mr Barrack noted Martinez worked part time for a company that employed people with abseiling skills to conduct external maintenance work on buildings and he lived with his de facto partner who was a school teacher.

Mr Barrack said his client was not a flight risk but had rather turned himself into police when he found out he was wanted for questioning and had continued to attend the police station as required, as well as gave his DNA.

He said Martinez had his passport and made no attempt to leave.

Jhonnattan Martinez allegedly met the woman after they both attended a dance party in Bondi Junction. Picture: NSW Police

Mr Barrack noted his client intended to plead not guilty to the charge and would likely not receive a trial date until the end of next year or 2024, which would be a significant time on remand.

Magistrate Hugh Donnelly agreed to grant bail noting it was a serious offence and the prosecution case sat in the middle of being weak and strong at the early stage.

He noted Martinez had no criminal history of violence and had complied with court directions when he was placed on a conditional release order in 2020 for driving with an illicit drug present.

Magistrate Donnelly ordered Martinez to live at his girlfriend’s house in Prestons, report to Liverpool Police daily, abide by a night-time curfew from 10pm to 5am and not drink alcohol or take illicit drugs.

Martinez must not enter an international point of departure, leave NSW and surrender his passport.

His girlfriend must also deposit $5000 as surety and forfeit it if Martinez’s bail is revoked.

The case was adjourned to October 5 at Sutherland Local Court.

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