Dexley Bulememe to be assessed for cognitive impairment

An overseas fruit picker who allegedly abducted and raped a woman he found passed out drunk on a nature strip in northern Victoria needs more time to prepare his defence.

A young woman allegedly told staff at Goulburn Valley Health she had been raped following an incident in Shepparton. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

An overseas fruit picker accused of raping a woman he found passed out drunk on a Shepparton nature strip will be assessed for cognitive impairment before his case continues.

Dexley Bulememe, 28, from Vanuatu, on Wednesday made a brief appearance before Shepparton Magistrates Court via video link from remand.

The court heard his defence team needed more time to prepare for Mr Bulememe’s committal hearing and was awaiting funding for his cognitive ability to be tested.

Following the assessment a report would be prepared.

Mr Bulememe was charged with abduction and rape of a 20-year-old woman in October.

Police documents allege the woman had been drinking with friends, who dropped her unconscious body on the nature strip outside her home just before 11pm on August 10.

Dexley Bulememe is on remand at Hopkins Correctional Centre in Ararat

Alone and vulnerable, the woman was spotted by Mr Bulememe, who allegedly grabbed her, put her in his car, drove to a remote rural location and raped her.

Police allege Mr Bulememe’s car battery died and he abandoned the alleged victim in the car, where she “screamed hysterically”.

Police and paramedics came to her aid just after 1am and were required to sedate her due to her state of extreme distress.

Following the incident Mr Bulememe, who is on a bridging visa, allegedly fled the state after the incident.

“Detectives were required to use specialist resources over the course of almost two months to locate the accused,” a police summary read.

On October 9, the accused came forward to police, admitting he had put the woman into his car but claimed it was out of concern for her welfare and did not rape her.

Mr Bulememe will remain in custody until at least March when the committal hearing will resume.

The hearing will determine if there is enough evidence to require Mr Bulememe to stand trial over the charges.