Victoria Police order internal inquiry into failed rape case

An internal police inquiry has been launched over why a Melbourne tradie was charged with rape despite an apparent lack of evidence.

Phoenix Cooper was left with a $200,000 legal bill to defend himself. Picture: David Caird

Victoria Police has ordered an internal inquiry into its failed rape case against Melbourne tradie Phoenix Cooper.

Mr Cooper was last month acquitted by a Supreme Court jury of having raped a woman he met at an Elsternwick bar in 2019.

He and his legal team have raised questions about why he was charged, prosecuted and committed to stand trial, given an apparent lack of evidence.

A major area of concern was the initial allegation that Mr Cooper had spiked the drink of a woman then raped her at his St Kilda home.

Toxicology testing later proved she had not been drugged but Mr Cooper was charged anyway.

Victoria Police confirmed it had received a complaint and it would be examined.

“Professional Standards Command has received a complaint in relation to this matter, which will be investigated,” a force statement said.

The Sunday Herald Sun last month revealed the huge personal and financial toll on Mr Cooper.

He had believed there was no way he would be charged because a key element of the case against him — that he had drugged the woman — was false.

Despite the failure of the prosecution, Mr Cooper was left with a $200,000 legal bill to defend himself.

He last week questioned why he was ever in that position.

“How did it get to this? The presumption of innocence was completely out the window,” he said.