Rape charge rider got partner to stalk alleged victim
A professional equestrian competitor charged with the rape
of a fellow rider is accused of encouraging his girlfriend and others to harass
his alleged victim, screenshotting her Instagram account and sharing her travel
plans, court documents show.
Pakenham Upper man Callum Buczak, 28, is set to face trial
next year for the alleged rape of a woman in Frankston in February 2019.
This week Mr Buczak, his girlfriend, Alexandra McDonough,
29, and two others were served with new charges following a year-long sex
crimes investigation into allegations of harassment against the woman he
allegedly raped.
Court documents released to The Age on Friday show police
allege Ms McDonough "surreptitiously" traced the victim's online
activity and sent it to Mr Buczak to cause the victim "self harm" or
to fear for her safety, between February 2019 and March 2020.
Mr Buczak, who is facing 12 new charges, was on bail for the
alleged rape when much of the alleged harassment took place but police have not
moved to revoke his bail.
The fresh charges include allegations he encouraged Ms
McDonough to trace the online activity of his alleged victim and send him the
woman's travel plans between February and December 2019.
Police also allege he searched for and photographed the
victim's graduation schedule to cause the woman self-harm.
He's also charged with encouraging others to send the woman
offensive and harassing messages throughout 2019.
Documents released to The Age reveal Mr Buczak is charged
with assisting his girlfriend to provide false statements to two magistrates
courts to pervert the course of justice, lying under affirmation at court,
knowingly omitting information when questioned by a magistrate and falsely
declaring that demands were made for equestrian retailer Horseland to withdraw
their sponsorship of him.
The couple didn't appear in court for Friday's matter but
arrived hours later for administrative reasons.
During the brief hearing, Mr Buczak's barrister Damian
Sheales said "some of these charges are frankly absurd".
Both Mr Buczak and Ms McDonough are on bail.
A 24-year-old Belgrave woman and a 24-year-old Clyde man
have also both been charged with stalking and other offences against the same
victim, allegedly committed between March and April 2019.
The pair are set to face Dandenong Magistrates Court on
August 3.
While the alleged rape did not happen at an official
equestrian event, Equestrian Australia have suspended Mr Buczak's membership.
The 28-year-old continues to run a popular equestrian
eventing business.
Mr Buczak and Ms McDonough are set to return to court on
July 31 for a committal mention.
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