Former cop Giuseppe Faraci accused of sexually assault has been committed to stand trial in County Court

A former cop has been ordered to stand trial over accusations of sexual assault against a colleague which allegedly took place while he was on duty.

Giuseppe Faraci, 51, will face trial over allegations of sexual assault against a colleague. Picture: Imran Ali.

Thursday May 8 update: A former police officer accused of sexually assaulting a colleague while on duty has been directed to stand trial in the County Court.

Giuseppe Faraci, 51, entered a not guilty plea in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on May 8, facing 12 charges of sexual assault and attempted sexual assault.

On the second day of Mr Faraci’s committal hearing, the court heard a second witness give evidence.

The court heard the complainant had spoken with the witness — a mutual colleague of Mr Faraci and the alleged victim — twice before reporting the alleged assaults, where she had been “very up and down with her emotions”.

“She was very emotional at times, crying and very sad, then she was very angry about what had happened to her,” the witness said.

“I just wanted to listen to her and to comfort her and make sure she was OK.”

The witness said they were “blown away” by the allegations against Mr Faraci, saying it was out of character and “not the person” they knew.

The court heard at the time of their conversation, the complainant said she had become “obsessed” with the roster — making sure she was not rostered on with Mr Faraci — and felt she had “no control over it anymore”.

“She felt like a supervisor needed to know,” the witness said.

The complainant told the witness there had been three incidents where Mr Faraci allegedly assaulted her.

The court heard on one occasion, Mr Faraci had allegedly “proposed to go to his mum’s house”.

The witness told the court they had noticed the alleged victim become “more reserved and quiet” in the time after the alleged incident.

On Thursday, Magistrate Michelle Hodgson committed Mr Faraci to stand trial in the County Court, saying she was “satisfied there was sufficient evidence for a jury to find him guilty”.

Mr Faraci is set to face the County Court in June.

Mr Faraci fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. Picture: Aaron Francis

Wednesday May 7

A former police officer has been accused of sexually assaulting a colleague after he allegedly masturbated in a police car while on duty.

Giuseppe Faraci, 51, fronted the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on May 7 facing 12 charges of sexual assault and attempted sexual assault.

The court heard officers would engage in conversations surrounding their home lives, sexual activity and relationship issues while at work.

The court was closed for much of Tuesday’s hearing, as the complainant took the stand behind closed doors.

The first witness gave their evidence in the late afternoon, describing Mr Faraci as “jovial and happy”.

The court closed earlier on Wednesday as Mr Faraci became overwhelmed with emotion as witnesses gave evidence.

The court heard the alleged victim had disclosed her discomfort around Mr Faraci to the witness on at least two occasions prior to reporting him.

The witness said the alleged victim had been attempting to avoid being rostered on alone with Mr Faraci when the alleged inappropriate behaviour started and had to “psychologically prepare herself” to be on shift with him.

The court heard Mr Faraci had allegedly been “extremely inappropriate” with the complainant, “touching her leg” multiple times while they were on duty together.

The witness told the court the complainant had refused his alleged advances, pushing his hand off her leg and saying “don’t touch me”.

The court heard after she had rejected his alleged advances, Mr Faraci had allegedly proceeded to masturbate in the police car in front of her.

The court adjourned early on Wednesday as Mr Faraci became emotional, bursting into tears.