Wednesday 22 June 2022 04:50 PM Gay Brisbane man Dominic Hansson accused of raping female friend says he was ... trends now
A gay man who is on trial for allegedly raping his female friend claims he had consensual sex with her after doubting 'if he was actually gay'.
A jury in the Brisbane District Court is deliberating whether Dominic Edmund Hansson, 28, is guilty of one count of rape on December 7, 2019.
Police allege Hansson - who has been labelled a 'narcissist' - arrived at the woman's inner city apartment without invitation about 1.30am on the morning in question, drunk and determined to spend the night.
The complainant was asleep but allowed Hansson to sleep on the couch, before he convinced her to let him in bed by reminding her he was gay and in a committed, four-year relationship.
It's alleged Hansson began 'spooning' the woman about 2.30am before 'flipping her onto her stomach' and raping her.
The prosecution argues Hansson 'took what he already knew about her sex life as an entitlement to treat her like an object', holding her face down on her bed and telling her he knew 'she liked it rough' when she pleaded with him to stop.
He sat stony-faced, supported by his father and now-ex, as his legal team argued the sex was consensual and his alleged victim had a 'vendetta' that prompted her to press charges.
Dominic Edmund Hansson, 28, is standing trial in Brisbane District Court this week over the alleged December 7, 2019 assault. He denies one count of rape
The jury heard on Wednesday Hansson 'manipulated' the victim in a 'toxic' attempt to erode confidence in herself and her recollection of the events.
Hansson told her he would take his own life if his long term, live-in partner at the time, Tony Rickards, were to ever learn of the indiscretion and demanded she send messages stating nothing untoward had happened between the pair.
In his closing argument, Crown prosecutor Chris Cook asked the jury to consider whether Hansson is a narcissist.
'You might conclude he's a narcissist who can talk his way out of anything. Only interested in himself. He lies to his partner, lied to the victim. He engaged in secret messages to the victim. He lied to police... He's a secretive man.'
Hansson's legal team argued narcissism is a psychiatric disorder and that their client was not diagnosed with such a condition.
They said the phrase was used simply because it elicits emotion and in an attempt to sway the jury.
Hansson told her he would take his own life if his long term, live-in partner at the time, Tony Rickards (pictured together), were to ever learn of the indiscretion. The pair have since split, but Mr Rickards was in court supporting Hansson on Wednesday
The woman - who cannot be named - went to police and filed a report on April 21, more than four months after the alleged assault.
Hansson's defence argues she made a false report because she was insulted that the 28-year-old described her as an escort. They also cited a separate altercation between the pair over marijuana.
The incident in question occurred hours before the complainant went to police.
In Facebook messages tendered to court, Hansson told the alleged victim: 'You need to be careful with the aromas that come out of your apartment. From what I can tell it is marijuana; constantly. Please stop.'
The woman took issue with the message because she claimed he often came to her apartment to ask for marijuana.
A heated Facebook exchange between the woman and Hansson (pictured) is part of the reason she reported the alleged assault to police, the defence argues
She responded: 'Don't you dare come into my apartment asking for the same thing you're complaining about. I tell you I don't have any and then you b**ch about the smell of weed in the building?'
Hansson denied he 'did either of those things'.
The complainant told police Hansson was at her apartment hours
