By Dominique Tassell
Seven people took the stand in the second day of prominent Warwick stock agent George McVeigh’s rape trial.
McVeigh is charged with offences including rape, sexual assault and attempted rape.
The 57-year-old has pleaded not guilty to all charges and gave his testimony on Wednesday afternoon, 16 November.
The witnesses for the prosecution to appear in court included the complainant’s husband, sister-in-law, brother, co-worker, a scientist appearing to discuss DNA evidence and a local police officer.
The court heard the witnesses for the prosecution detail the complainant’s immediate demeanour after the alleged incident.
It is alleged that McVeigh sexually assaulted the complainant at her home on 31 January 2021, performing a sex act without her consent and attempting to rape her.
Witnesses said the complainant appeared “very shaken” after the alleged incident and told one witness she just wanted to “get his slobber off me” before taking a shower.
The court heard that the complainant presented at Warwick Hospital the next day and later gave a statement to the police.
A scientist from the laboratory that processed the DNA samples relating to the case then gave testimony via telephone, saying that it was statistically unlikely the mixed DNA in the complainant’s panties was from George McVeigh but it was likely the DNA found on her bra was.
In his testimony, McVeigh stated that the complainant initiated the kiss and the alleged assault was a consensual interaction.
The defence referenced an alleged incident in 2017 or 2018 where the complainant danced at a party in front of McVeigh to the song Eagle Rock and removed her pants.
“I noticed her slowly take her jeans down and dance in front of both of us,” he said, going on to say she was wearing a black g-string.
In the prosecution’s cross-examination, McVeigh said he was attracted to the complainant and had flirted with her.
The prosecution put to McVeigh that the complainant had ignored or rejected these flirtations, which he denied.
A witness for the defence is set to give their testimony on Thursday 17 November.
