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French National Remanded Over Alleged Melbourne New Year’s Laneway Rape

Prosecutors will serve a brief before an April 10 committal mention following the 22-year-old's decision not to seek bail.

Overview

  • Adam Berguiga, 22, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates' Court charged with seven offences, including two counts of rape, intentional sexual touching without consent, assault and recklessly causing injury.
  • Police allege a woman celebrating New Year’s was helped from a nightclub and sexually assaulted about 4:30am on January 1 in Corrs Lane, with the accused then leading her to Little Bourke Street.
  • Charge sheets state the woman suffered injuries to her left shoulder, head and knees, and that consent was not reasonably believed during two alleged rapes.
  • Berguiga was arrested at Sydney Airport after a public appeal in which Victoria Police released images, and he was extradited to Melbourne.
  • The defence told the court he speaks no English, required a French interpreter, is vulnerable in first-time custody, and requested access to a mental health nurse, while additional charges allege unlicensed driving in the CBD.