Richard Giardina denies Lakemba rape, robbery charges

A prisoner will face trial over an alleged historic rape in which he is accused of breaking into a stranger’s home, attacking her and stealing her wallet.

A Sydney man has denied breaking into a stranger’s home, raping her and taking off with her wallet in 1988 before a police breakthrough led to his arrest more than 30 years on.

Richard Giardina, 52, faced Sydney District Court on Friday charged with sexual assault, entering a dwelling with intent and stealing property after police allege he broke into a 26-year-old stranger’s Lakemba home, raped her and stole from her in 1988.

Giardina was charged with the offences after his DNA was swabbed for an inmate testing program at a Queensland prison, where he is serving a prison sentence for unrelated crimes.

Richard Giardina.

Richard Giardina.

Police say a match occurred when his details wound up in a national crime database of unsolved cases across Australia.

Giardina was arraigned before Judge Dina Yehia and pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

He will face a trial on August 23 this year.

During his arraignment the court heard police will allege Giardina broke into the woman’s home late at night, sexually assaulted her and then stole her wallet and an amount of cash.

Speaking generally after Giardina’s arrest, Forensic Evidence and Technical Services Command Superintendent Grant Healey said advances in technology had helped resolve mysterious crimes.

“Technology has naturally allowed police to expand their ‘toolbox’ in terms of the collection of evidence and the identification of perpetrators of crime,” Mr Healey said.

“Just as criminals are adapting to and exploiting changes in technology to develop new ways to commit crimes, law enforcement must use it to develop new ways to prevent and disrupt crime.”

The Crown prosecutor and Giardina’s solicitor will next attend Sydney District Court for a readiness hearing on July 2 ahead of Giardina’s trial.