Rape defendant described as "shy" and "good natured"

Thursday 06 July 2017

A 21-year-old man who is accused of having raped and indecently assaulted a 17-year-old girl in October 2016 has been described as "shy" and "good natured" by his family and friends.

Paulo Adelino Pestana Ferreira is pleading not guilty to all charges against him, which include four counts of indecent assault and one of rape.

His advocate, Rui Tremoceiro, read a series of letters written on his behalf in Court yesterday. Those letters, written by cousins and friends, depicted him as "good natured", "helpful with family and friends", "hard working" and "trustworthy."

One of his cousins wrote that, "...he never disrespected a lady and always kept out of problems in night clubs." Another said he was "shy" and "very respectful of women."

His parents said he is, "...a honest, humble, hardworking, punctual, trustworthy, person who likes to help others" and a "friendly person who works hard to achieve his goals."

During the second part of his cross examination, Crown Advocate Simon Thomas asked Mr Ferreira how drunk the alleged victim had been. He replied that she didn't appear "too drunk." The Crown Advocate also asked why 86 condoms were found in his car and if he regularly had sex in the vehicle - the defendant said no, claiming they had been provided by the Brook Clinic for a former girlfriend. 

Advocate Thomas then claimed Ferreira had been telling lies in Court and had changed his account "completely." "Your position was that her top had not come up, but now it is that it came unbuttoned and was on top of her chest. This is another lie, not to the police or to the expert witness, but a lie on oath, in this court, to this jury whom you are asking to believe your account."

Royal Court Commissioner, Julian Clyde-Smith, also asked the defendant how the girl's top, which was a bodysuit fastened underneath the crotch, could have come undone. Mr Ferreira replied: "Because of the moving of the hands, maybe it came undone.”

Both the prosecution and the defence are due to make their final submissions this morning before the jury retires to consider their verdict.