Courtroom gasps as wannabe rap artist who raped and murdered Israeli student Aiia Maasarwe tells judge he’s ‘not guilty’
- Codey Herrmann pleaded not guilty to raping and murdering Aiia Maasarwe
- The plea comes just a week after the 20-year-old confessed to the crimes
- After a brief conversation with his lawyer, he changed his plea back to guilty
- Herrmann is expected to face a Supreme Court plea hearing on October 1
An aspiring rapper who previously pleaded guilty to raping murdered international student Aiia Maasarwe stunned a courtroom by changing his plea to not guilty.
Codey Herrmann, 20, pleaded guilty last week to killing Ms Maasarwe, whose body was found near a tram stop in Melbourne’s north on January 16.
But when he was officially arraigned in the Supreme Court on Wednesday he stroked his beard and answered ‘not guilty’ to the rape charge.
Codey Herrmann pleaded guilty last week to killing Ms Maasarwe, whose body was found near a tram stop in Melbourne’s north on January 16
The statement prompted defence lawyer Tim Marsh to intervene, and after a brief conversation they requested a do-over where he pleaded guilty to both charges.
Herrmann was charged with the rape and murder of Ms Maasarwe three days after the crime, but details of his involvement weren’t initially shared with the public.
Ms Maasarwe was attacked on her way home from a comedy club after getting off a tram near La Trobe University.
Her body was found the following morning in nearby Bundoora, and police were able to track Herrmann through the use of CCTV footage from the tram.
Ms Maasarwe (pictured) was attacked on her way home from a comedy club after getting off a tram near La Trobe University in Bundoora
The Palestinian Arab of Israeli citizenship had been in Melbourne only a short time and was speaking by phone to her overseas-based sister, Noor, when attacked.
‘She was living a dream in Melbourne, a dream that ended up being worst (sic) than a nightmare,’ the sibling posted on Instagram, shortly after her death.
Ms Maasarwe’s family were notified last week Herrmann intended to plead guilty.
He’ll face a Supreme Court plea hearing on October 1.
The defence is expected to seek a number of documents, including a neuropsychiatric report and a report on Herrmann’s culture and background.
Herrmann was homeless and unemployed when he killed Ms Maasarwe.
Codey Herrmann pleaded guilty last week to killing Ms Maasarwe, whose body was found near a tram stop in Melbourne’s north on January 16