Brent David Tomkins pleads not guilty to rape in Warwick District Court

A groomsman accused of raping a woman the night of a wedding in southern Queensland has pleaded not guilty to the offence.

Brent David Tomkins outside Warwick District Court. October 28, 2024.

A groomsman at a southern Queensland wedding accused of raping another guest who was asleep at the time has pleaded not guilty at the first day of his trial.

Brent David Tomkins is accused of raping a young woman in her 20s on the night of a wedding.

He pleaded not guilty in Warwick District Court on October 28, 2024 to one charge of rape.

The Crown will allege Mr Tomkins was a groomsman at a wedding near Inglewood on April 9, 2022 and raped the woman who he did not know before the day of the wedding.

Brent David Tomkins outside Warwick District Court. October 28, 2024.

Crown prosecutor James Coghlan said the woman was sleeping in a swag after leaving the wedding reception, and woke to the man raping her.

Mr Coghlan said Mr Tomkins had not met the alleged victim before the wedding, but had limited interactions during the day.

The Crown said in the day after the alleged rape, the woman made a complaint to police and underwent examination at a hospital in the region.

“That testing detected the presence of Mr Tomkin’s semen inside her vagina,” Mr Coghlan said.

It is understood both the prosecution and defence do not deny sexual conduct occurred, but it will be up to the Crown to prove beyond a reasonable doubt to the jury that it was non-consensual.

The trial continues under Judge Craig Chowdhury on Tuesday.

Originally published as Brent David Tomkins pleads not guilty to rape in Warwick District Court