Cairns crime: AFL player Henry Mareko pleads guilty to two counts of rape

A star young AFL player learned his fate in Cairns District Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to two counts of rape.

A MISTAKEN belief that a woman wanted to have sex with him resulted in a promising young AFL representative player being convicted of two counts of rape.

Henry John Mareko, 26, pleaded guilty in Cairns District Court on Tuesday over the incident that occurred in Cairns on December 12, 2020.

Crown prosecutor Tegan Grasso said Mr Mareko grabbed the 42-year-old woman in her bedroom and pushed her onto her back and she texted a friend “help me” but her friend did not respond.

He left the room but returned, pinned her down with his knees on her thighs and told her to “shut the ***k up”, Ms Grasso said.

AFL representative player Henry Mareko will be eligible for parole in November 2022 after pleading guilty to two counts of rape in Cairns District Court on Tuesday..

“She eventually acquiesced out of fear,” Ms Grasso said.

“She lied and said there were people outside, and he said he would come back.”

The woman told a friend, who spoke to Mr Mareko.

He then contacted the woman and told her if she reported the incident to police, he would commit suicide, Ms Grasso said.

She told the court it was a late plea of guilty and a trial date had been set.

Defence barrister Tim Grau told the court the woman and Mr Mareko had been “sexting” since he was in his early 20s – he was 24 at the time of the offence.

He said the woman disclosed she wanted to have sex with him, which gave rise to his “mistaken belief”.

Mr Mareko had shared a carton of beer with his cousin at his mother’s home earlier in the night, Mr Grau said.

He said the offending was for a brief period of time.

The woman and Mr Mareko communicated after the rape.

She had requested he delete the text messages and he did.

She texted: “I don’t want the family to know, I told you stop, you wouldn’t listen, why did you have to spoil it” and he responded “I thought you liked it”, Mr Grau told the court.

Judge Dean Morzone QC, imposed a sentence of three years on the first count and five years and nine months on the second count, with 609 days spent in custody as time served and a parole date of November 22, 2022.

He said the situation reflected Mr Mareko’s “lack of maturity and realism” and that he was at a low risk of reoffending, and noted Mr Mareko’s study efforts and dedicated work ethic.

Mr Mareko, who grew up on Badu Island and intends to return there, was supported by his mother and extended family in court.

Originally published as Cairns crime: AFL player Henry Mareko pleads guilty to two counts of rape