Cairns court: Dondally Songoro raped two women including one with brain injury

A Far North father of two who “effectively” abducted and raped two women, including one with a brain impairment, was on bail at the time of his offending.

Stock image of a male following female. Dondally Songoro was sentenced for rape at Cairns District Court. Picture: iStock

A Far North father of two who “effectively” abducted and raped two women, including one with a brain impairment, was on bail at the time of his offending.

Dondally Songoro, now 26, pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and one count of common assault in Cairns District Court last week.

The first offence occurred in Cairns on November 30, 2022 where Songoro picked up his victim on the side of the road before driving her to isolated bushland where he stopped the car indicating he needed to use the bathroom and “lured” the complainant out of the “safety of the vehicle”.

“That’s when he’s pushed her down to the ground, removed her clothes, and raped her ...,” crown prosecutor Matthew Hancock told the court.

“After he committed the act, he drove off, leaving the complainant by the bushland, naked and about a kilometre from her home.”

Dondally Songoro took his victim to bushland before raping her, Cairns District Court heard.

Mr Hancock told the court Songoro’s first victim was vulnerable.

“Given the nature of (the victim’s) brain injury, in my submission it would be obvious enough for someone to tell (she’s vulnerable),” he said.

Mr Hancock said Songoro initially denied his offending in a police interview – demonstrating “a lack of remorse”.

He said the second count of offending took place a couple months later, again in Cairns on January 10, 2023 with a similar “modus operandi,” although the second victim was not reported as having an acquired brain injury.

Dondally Songoro assaulted his second rape victim, Cairns District Court heard. Picture: Brendan Radke.

The court heard Songoro again had picked up his victim and driven her to isolated bushland.

“Immediately upon doing that (he’s) committed the sexual conduct ... After she swept his hand away, he’s pulled out his penis and masturbated himself and then, in my submission, your honour, would infer some anger about being rebuffed, he’s committed that act of physical violence against the complaint in the form of a punch to the right side of her ribs.”

Defending Songoro, barrister John Seccull told the court it was accepted his client’s behaviour was predatory.

He said Songoro was born in the Torres Strait but moved to Innisfail at a young age with his mother, after his parents separated.

He said he had grown up in a “poor home environment” where he was allegedly subjected to violence and abuse, and he left school in Year 8, turning to alcohol and drugs.

Songoro was sentenced to eight years imprisonment, with no parole date.

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Originally published as Cairns court: Dondally Songoro raped two women including one with brain injury