The trial of cousins Jamie Bray and Francis Carriage accused of rape restarted after mistrial

A new jury has heard evidence from the mother of a young woman allegedly raped by a pair of cousins after their trial was restarted following a mistrial last week.

Francis Kevin Carriage and Jamie Bray have pleaded not guilty to three charges of rape as they face trial in the Cairns District Court.

A new jury has heard evidence from the mother of a young woman allegedly raped by a pair of cousins after their trial was restarted following a mistrial last week.

Francis Kevin Carriage, 27, and Jamie Bray, 26, have each pleaded not guilty to three charges of rape after it was alleged they “took turns” raping a young woman after she refused to engage in a threesome, the court heard.

The trial of the two men had to be restarted this week with a new jury after Judge Leanne Clare SC declared a mistrial on Friday.

Tensions were high in the courtroom on Tuesday as the mother of the alleged victim was cross-examined by the defence counsel for Mr Jamie Bray, Isaac Munsie.

The witness was asked about her conversations with police officers when she attended the hospital with her daughter the day after the alleged rape.

She told the court she was in a “heightened” and “stressed” state and was there to support her daughter.

“My daughter was very frightened and she wanted me with her as she went through all the examinations,” she said.

“She didn’t want me to leave her.”

The Cairns Court House building on Sheridan Street. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Munsie asked the witness if she had told her daughter before leaving her to be interviewed by police: “You know he was a part of it, you don’t have to protect anybody”.

The witness asserted she was not coaching her daughter.

“I reassured my daughter that she was able to speak freely and tell her story,” she said.

“My role at the hospital was as a mother supporting her daughter a reassuring her she was in a safe room and no one could hurt her anymore.”

Mr Munsie submitted that the witness was not answering his questions but instead was making a speech.

“I don’t know what you are alluding to,” the witness said in response.

“I know where I was and I know what I was doing and I was there to reassure and support my daughter who was traumatised, who had never been in this situation before.”

Judge Clare told the witness to stop and told Mr Munsie “speeches have been made by both of you,” before asking the witness just to answer the questions asked of her.

The trial continues.

Originally published as The trial of cousins Jamie Bray and Francis Carriage accused of rape restarted after mistrial