‘Broken’ Christian Porter pleads with the family of his rape accuser for ‘understanding’ about WHY he’s vehemently denying their loved one’s 33-year-old claims – after she took her own life last year
- Christian Porter began his public denial with a message to his accuser’s family
- Attorney-General asked the clan to understand why he was issuing denial
- The unnamed Adelaide woman took her own life, age 49, in June 2020
- Her family are reportedly said to be suffering ‘considerable grief’
When Attorney-General Christian Porter came out to publicly deny claims he raped a woman in 1988 – who has since died – he began with a message to her family.
Mr Porter asked them to understand why he was publicly denying their loved one’s claims of historic sexual assault, which have come to light in recent weeks.
The accuser, an Adelaide woman whose family do not want her to be identified, took her own in life in June 2020. She was 49-years-old.
The visibly upset Cabinet Minister started a press conference in Perth on Thursday – where he sensationally identified himself as the mystery minister accused – saying: ‘To the parents who are grieving for the loss of their adult daughter.
‘I only knew your daughter for brief periods, in debating competitions, when we were teenagers about 33 years ago.
‘In losing that person, your daughter, you have suffered a terrible loss. And you did not deserve the frenzied politicisation of the circumstances of your daughter’s death of the last week.’
A visibly upset Attorney-General Christian Porter strenuously denied historic rape claims at an extraordinary press conference in Perth on Thursday
An anonymous sender wrote a letter to MPs detailing the woman’s allegations (above) after former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins went public with her separate claim against a staffer
‘I have thought, long and hard about the implications for you, of what I feel that I need to say today.
‘And I hope that whatever else happens, from this point, that you will understand, that in saying today, that the things that are being claimed to have happened did not happen, that I did not mean to impose anything more upon your grief.
‘But I hope that you will also understand, that because what is being alleged did not happen, I must say so publicly.’
Mr Porter went on to say that the woman’s claims ‘just didn’t happen’.
Rumours have raged about the identity of the minister since the accuser’s friends sent a letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Labor Senator Penny Wong and Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young last week.
I did not mean to impose anything more upon your grief
Attorney-General Christian Porter to the dead woman’s family
The woman had claimed she had been raped after a night drinking in dancing in Sydney’s Kings Cross that January. Mr Porter strenuously denied that on Thursday.
The few details he could remember about his interactions with the woman involved bowls of prawns, dancing and the alleged victim showing him how to iron. Mr Porter said he never slept with her.
Porter knew the woman as debaters in their teenage years. She was 16 and he was 16
NSW Police opened Strike Force Wynderra to investigate the claims but for whatever reason the woman submitted a formal statement about it.
Police announced yesterday that detectives had closed their investigation into the case after seeking legal advice.
‘Based on the information provided to NSW Police, there is insufficient admissible evidence to proceed.
‘As such, NSW Police Force has determined the matter is now closed.’
The woman’s friends are seeking a form of inquiry into the matter. Mr Porter said he can continue in his position.
Mr Porter has taken a leave of absence from his role to seek counselling and has retained a defamation lawyer.
As for the woman’s family, they reportedly ‘continue to experience considerable grief arising from their loss’ and have asked for privacy.