Ron Hitler-Barassi
08-24-2007, 12:35 AM
Surprise, surprise. A Greek.
Accused rapist held on 61 charges
August 24, 2007 04:00am
A MAN will appear in a Melbourne court today charged over sexual attacks on 23 women, including a string of offences dubbed the Hot Chocolate rapes.
Harry William Barkas, 45, appeared at an out-of-sessions hearing before bail justice James Catchlove at the Melbourne Custody Centre last night on 61 charges relating to a series of rapes over a 15-year period.
Barkas, who lives with his mother and was arrested at her South Yarra home yesterday morning, was the subject of two separate investigations by sexual crimes squad detectives.
They will allege Barkas used drugs to sedate his victims before raping or trying to rape them.
The first investigation involved alleged incidents with five separate women, between 1990 and 2005.
Barkas has been charged with four counts of rape, one of indecent assault, five counts of administering drugs to render a person unable to resist sexual penetration and one count each of using and trafficking cannabis.
From the second investigation, which spans the period from 1995 to 1998 and involves 18 alleged victims, he faces four more charges of rape, eight of assault with intent to rape, 19 counts of abduction and 18 counts of administering drugs to render a person unable to resist sexual penetration.
These alleged incidents have been dubbed the Hot Chocolate rapes.
The hearing was told Barkas offered lifts to woman pedestrians, either alone or in pairs, in the early hours of the morning in the CBD and inner suburbs.
He allegedly bought food or beverages - hot chocolate in all but two cases - laced with unknown drugs that made the women lose consciousness, drove them to other locations and raped or sexually assaulted them.
Opposing bail, sexual crimes squad Detective Senior Constable Anthony Zagari, who outlined the charges against Barkas, said police believed he was a flight risk and may contact alleged victims or witnesses.
In response, Barkas denied knowing the victims and said: "First of all, where will I flee to? I just live with my mother".
Mr Catchlove refused Barkas' bail application, saying his release posed "an unacceptable risk".
Barkas will appear in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court later today. He said he intended to re-apply for bail there.
Accused rapist held on 61 charges
August 24, 2007 04:00am
A MAN will appear in a Melbourne court today charged over sexual attacks on 23 women, including a string of offences dubbed the Hot Chocolate rapes.
Harry William Barkas, 45, appeared at an out-of-sessions hearing before bail justice James Catchlove at the Melbourne Custody Centre last night on 61 charges relating to a series of rapes over a 15-year period.
Barkas, who lives with his mother and was arrested at her South Yarra home yesterday morning, was the subject of two separate investigations by sexual crimes squad detectives.
They will allege Barkas used drugs to sedate his victims before raping or trying to rape them.
The first investigation involved alleged incidents with five separate women, between 1990 and 2005.
Barkas has been charged with four counts of rape, one of indecent assault, five counts of administering drugs to render a person unable to resist sexual penetration and one count each of using and trafficking cannabis.
From the second investigation, which spans the period from 1995 to 1998 and involves 18 alleged victims, he faces four more charges of rape, eight of assault with intent to rape, 19 counts of abduction and 18 counts of administering drugs to render a person unable to resist sexual penetration.
These alleged incidents have been dubbed the Hot Chocolate rapes.
The hearing was told Barkas offered lifts to woman pedestrians, either alone or in pairs, in the early hours of the morning in the CBD and inner suburbs.
He allegedly bought food or beverages - hot chocolate in all but two cases - laced with unknown drugs that made the women lose consciousness, drove them to other locations and raped or sexually assaulted them.
Opposing bail, sexual crimes squad Detective Senior Constable Anthony Zagari, who outlined the charges against Barkas, said police believed he was a flight risk and may contact alleged victims or witnesses.
In response, Barkas denied knowing the victims and said: "First of all, where will I flee to? I just live with my mother".
Mr Catchlove refused Barkas' bail application, saying his release posed "an unacceptable risk".
Barkas will appear in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court later today. He said he intended to re-apply for bail there.