Overview
- County Court judge Andrew Palmer lifted the gag order on December 11, allowing media to name 23-year-old Tom Silvagni as the offender.
- A 12-person jury found Silvagni guilty on two counts of rape on December 5 after a two-week trial in Melbourne, and he was remanded into custody.
- Jurors heard Silvagni impersonated a friend, entered a dark bedroom at his family home in January 2024, and digitally raped the woman twice.
- Evidence included Silvagni’s admission that he altered his friend’s Uber receipt to mislead investigators about timing.
- Defence bids to keep his identity suppressed cited mental health and family reputation, but the judge noted close monitoring in custody and widespread public knowledge of his name; a pre-sentence hearing is set for Friday, with sentencing to follow.