Man pleads not guilty to allegations he raped ex-partner in Kalgoorlie bushland weeks after they broke up

A man will fight allegations he raped his ex-partner twice as she tried to sleep in bushland three weeks after they broke up. The 32-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the complainant, pleaded not guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual penetration without consent when he appeared in Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court from Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison on Thursday. His lawyer had indicated he would plead guilty to an aggravated common assault charge but changed his mind when the prosecution flagged a serial family violence offender application would be made. The matter was adjourned to a committal hearing in October where the rape allegations will likely be moved to the District Court listings. The details of the allegations against the man were read to the court at a previous hearing and published by the Kalgoorlie Miner. The prosecution during that appearance told the court the complainant was sleeping in bushland between the Federal Hotel and Goldfields Highway, near the World’s Tallest Bin, on April 29 when she allegedly woke up to the man trying to take her pants off. Police say the man sexually assaulted her despite her trying to push him off and telling him “no”. It is alleged the man scratched the woman’s face and punched her multiple times throughout the assault before throwing her underwear into nearby bushes. Police further allege the man forced the woman to do a sex act on him after the first assault. They say the couple had broken up three weeks before the allegations. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Sexual Assault Counselling Australia 1800 211 028