Teenager found guilty of raping woman during home invasion
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The boy faced trial in Cairns over three days last month before a judge alone. (Four Corners)
A 17-year-old boy has been found guilty of raping a woman during a home invasion in Far North Queensland in February last year.
A judge-alone trial in Cairns last month heard the boy detained the woman's partner in a bedroom with a knife, while two other teenage boys raped her in different parts of the Manunda home.
The boy pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape, arguing he did not know his co-offenders intended to sexually assault the woman.
Prosecutors argued the accused was liable for rape because he prevented the partner from intervening.
Judge Joshua Treviño KC has today delivered his verdict, finding the boy guilty of a single count of rape, and not guilty of the other four counts.
The Children's Court of Queensland heard the three boys broke into the Manunda home and entered the couple's bedroom with weapons, demanding wallets, at about 3am on Friday, February 21, 2025.
Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald argued the boy was aware his co-offenders intended to rape the woman and therefore "aided or enabled" the assault.
The prosecution relied on the evidence of the victim's partner, who said one of the other boys made an explicit comment as she left the bedroom to collect her wallet.
However, defence barrister Tim Grau told the court his client believed the other boys only intended to rob the woman.
Defence counsel Tim Grau argued his client failed to hear and understand his co-offenders would rape the victim. (ABC News: Christopher Testa)
The boy pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful detention, two counts of armed robbery in company, breaking and entering at night in company with offensive weapons, and theft of a pair of headphones.
Earlier this year, the two co-offenders, both now aged 17, pleaded guilty to all 11 charges.
They have been remanded in custody ahead of a sentencing hearing listed for next month.
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