The Director of Public Prosecutions has withdrawn all charges against two Bellambi men accused of raping a 15-year-old girl in a Woonona park.
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Dion Rizzo and Tristan Winter, both 19, were arrested in April this year and remanded in custody for a month after the teen reported the alleged rape, said to have occurred last November, to police.
The girl allegedly told police she was at the park alone, sitting on the play equipment, when the two men approached her and and struck up a conversation.
It is alleged the men started kissing and fondling her before they both had sex with her.
Rizzo and Winter have always denied the charge of rape, claiming through their lawyers that they were unaware of the girl’s age at the time and that any sexual interaction between them had been consensual.
Their cases were committed for trial in Wollongong District Court in September however in court last Tuesday, a representative of the DPP told Judge Warwick Hunt it was dropping it case against the pair.
The DPP did not give a reason in court for withdrawing the charges and is not required to under law.
The Mercury sought an interview with both men through their legal representatives.
Winter declined to comment other than his solicitor saying he was “relieved” at the outcome, however Rizzo made the following statement through his lawyer, James Howell.
“I am relieved that the court proceedings are now over and that the charges have been dropped.
“Whilst I have always maintained my innocence, as you can imagine it was still an extremely stressful time for me and my family facing such serious allegations.
“I am thankful to my lawyer for all of his hard work throughout the case. I am looking forward to getting on with the rest of my life.”