An accused rapist living illegally in Australia has been granted bail in a Queensland court despite earlier being deemed a flight risk.
Ray Carlos Melu, a former meat worker, is facing two rape charges over the alleged attack in a Mackay park, and was refused bail in May by Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan who noted his visa had expired and said: “We basically have an illegal immigrant at the moment.”
But Melu successfully applied for bail again in the Mackay Magistrates Court last month and was released on the condition he surrender his passport, have no contact with his victim, wear an ankle monitor, stay in Mackay and report to police twice a day, the Daily Mercury reported.
The court heard Melu and his alleged victim had met once before the alleged rape, and that he had allegedly apologised to her afterwards by text message.
Police allege Melu allegedly pushed the woman towards some bushes in the park and penetrated her with his fingers without consent, causing her to fall to the ground crying, the court heard.
He then allegedly jumped on top of her and penetrated her without consent again.
The court heard Melu allegedly texted the woman “sorry for that, I was wrong” and then allegedly said he understood and asked for forgiveness when she replied “don’t you know no consent given equals rape”.
Melu’s defence lawyer Rio Ramos confirmed her client had apologised to the victim but said it was possible there was a “cultural issue with the breakdown in communication”.
She also told the court her client had no prior history, referred to an ambulance report where officers said there were inconsistencies in the alleged victim’s versions of events, and said DNA sample results were still outstanding.
Header image: Mackay Court (Google Street View).
