Melbourne real estate consultant Anthony ‘Antonio’ Pecori charged with raping and strangling woman

A Melbourne real estate consultant allegedly strangled and raped a young woman at his home while his own mother was in the house.

Anthony 'Antonio' Pecori was charged with rape and strangulation. Facebook.

A Melbourne real estate consultant allegedly raped a woman who “clawed” him to stop because she feared she would die, a court has heard.

Anthony ‘Antonio’ Pecori, 23, pleaded not guilty at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to multiple charges including rape.

It’s alleged Pecori, a real estate consultant, raped a woman at his house after a night out in Melbourne’s inner south late last year.

Pecori, who also pleaded not guilty to reckless conduct endangering life – strangulation, took the young woman to his house just after 5am where the pair allegedly drunk wine and did cocaine.

According to material obtained by the Herald Sun, the woman fell asleep but woke to find Pecori allegedly attempting to penetrate her.

It’s alleged the woman “repeatedly yelled no” but Pecori “placed either his forearm or hand on her throat” which “severely restricted (the woman’s) breathing”.

Pecori, of St Kilda, then allegedly raped the woman.

The woman, who said she believed she was “going to die”, allegedly attempted to stop Pecori by “clawing at his arms and back”.

It’s alleged Pecori stopped and the woman fled the house and called her mother before the incident was reported to police.

Pecori, who worked as a lease consultant with a real estate management firm, was arrested and remanded after a short investigation.

Pecori, who also pleaded not guilty to intentionally cause injury, made an unsuccessful bail application shortly after his arrest but was denied.

Pecori, an Albert Park Secondary graduate, later made a successful bail application at the Supreme Court and was released in December.

The Supreme Court heard allegations Pecori’s mother was home “during the incident” and she heard “yelling, swearing and loud banging coming from the spare bedroom”.

The mother allegedly “yelled out” to her son to “stop” or she would “call police”, the court was told.

Pecori’s mum also claimed she saw the alleged victim leave the house.

The mother also “expressed concern” to Pecori about his “frequent heavy drinking”.

The Supreme Court also heard claims the alleged victim’s mother found her daughter to be “extremely distressed”.

The mother also claimed her daughter’s face was a “purplelish-blue” colour.

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Images taken by the alleged victim’s sister which depict “injuries consistent with strangulation” were also shown to the court.

The images also depict the alleged victim with a “swollen face and lips, blood in the white of her right eye, facial discolouration, and petechial bruising”.

The court heard investigators allegedly discovered a message on Pecori’s phone sent to a friend which read: “I f--ked up”.

The prosecution opposed Pecori’s bail applications citing the “seriousness of the rape alleged in this case”.

The prosecution also “emphasised the strength” of their case.

Pecori, who fronted court on Thursday for a committal, has no criminal priors.

The court was closed for much of the hearing for the alleged victim’s testimony.

Pecori was to remain in the courtroom while the testimony was given but would sit up the back out of sight off the alleged victim, the court was told.

Pecori, who was committed to stand trial at the Court Court, who will front court at a later date.

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