Prosecutors says Mildura rape accused used ‘victim blaming 101’ as his defence claim both he & alleged victim lied
In closing addresses to the court, prosecutors have branded a Mildura man accused of rape a “narcissistic manipulator”, while his lawyer claimed the complainant lied as the jury now decides his fate.
A Mildura man accused of rape and assault has been branded a victim blamer and liar by prosecutors as his defence team urged jurors to strip emotion from their final decision.
Jordan Blair, 31, fronted the County Court in Mildura on Friday for day six of his trial on charges including rape, assault and aggravated burglary.
The court previously heard that after a day out at Perry Sandhills, an argument between Mr Blair and the woman allegedly escalated into a weekend of violence.
It was alleged Mr Blair repeatedly slapped, jumped on, spat at and bit the woman before forcing her into the shower and taking a degrading photo.
He was further accused of kicking her with steel-capped boots, smashing her phone over her head and then allegedly trying to anally rape her before holding her down and raping her.
Mr Blair pleaded guilty to recklessly causing serious injury and recklessly causing injury, but denied the other six charges on the indictment that the jury is considering.
In his closing address, prosecution lawyer Russell Hammill told jurors the alleged assault and rape was an “exercise in power”.
“He held (the alleged victim) in utter contempt for the entire weekend,” Mr Hammill told jurors.
Mr Hammill also urged the jury to dismiss Mr Blair’s record of interview, calling it “victim blaming 101”.
“Mr Blair lies from start to finish. His record of interview should be rejected holus-bolus, the entire thing,” Mr Hammill said.
“He is a narcissistic manipulator … the lies he told were plentiful … you have all the evidence you need,” he told the jury.
Mr Blair’s lawyer Daniel McGlone urged jurors to take emotion out of their decision.
“You’re stuck with a job that is about the mind and not the heart,” Mr McGlone said.
He conceded his client lied, but insisted the alleged victim had lied as well.
“People lie and I am going to say to you that both Mr Blair and (the alleged victim) both lied,” Mr McGlone said.
He said the incident was the result of “poor choices and stupid decisions”, adding, “it’s not that deep.”
Mr McGlone pointed to the fact his client had pleaded guilty to two of the charges but denied the rest, and said that was where the jury should land.
“What is in dispute cannot be proven beyond reasonable doubt,” Mr McGlone said.
The jury was given final instructions by Judge Mark Gamble and sent away to deliberate on its verdict, with a decision expected early next week.
