Former NRL player Teui ‘TC' Robati found not guilty of two rape counts
After the trial verdict was handed down on Wednesday, Robati pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a different woman in a separate incident.
He remained in court for sentencing on that charge, which was not part of the trial, after being found not guilty of two rape counts.
The ex-Brisbane Broncos second-rower, 23, had pleaded not guilty to raping a woman twice in the disabled toilet of a pub in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley on December 11, 2022.
The District Court jury had deliberated for a total of nine hours since Tuesday following a trial lasting a one-and-a-half days before Judge William Everson.
Crown prosecutor Isabelle MacNicol earlier alleged Robati had lured a woman into a pub toilet promising access to an exclusive event before raping her.
Defence barrister David Funch previously told the jury it would not be an issue at the trial that his client was at the pub.
'It is accepted that sexual interaction occurred,' he said.
Mr Funch said an important issue would be a 'mistake of fact'.
'In broad terms, if the person had an honest belief that the person was consenting and it was reasonable for them to hold that belief in all the circumstances, then they have a defence,' he said.
'Then they are not guilty of the charge.'
The jury heard the prosecution would have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Robati's defence of mistaken consent did not apply.
The trial was moved to closed court for the jury to watch video evidence from the woman that was recorded in 2024.
Robati pleaded guilty to unlawful and indecent assault, having been accused of groping a woman in Brisbane on December 21, 2022.
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The Western Australian Supreme Court will next Wednesday rule on former Liberal senator Linda Reynolds' high-profile defamation case against Ms Higgins, her former employee. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
