The rape charges against former Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council deputy chairman Richard Green were ultimately dropped by the DPP and he pleaded guilty to two counts of contravening an apprehended violence order and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Mr Green was sentenced to a 20-month intensive corrections order and a two-year community corrections order in Newcastle District Court in March, 2020.
THE woman who accused former Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council deputy chairman Richard Green of rape has provided two statements retracting her allegations and wants to have an apprehended domestic violence order relaxed so the pair can have contact, Newcastle Local Court has heard.
But DPP solicitor Isabella Maxwell-Williams says the alleged victim has been "got at" and coerced into signing the statements, which she said were witnessed and signed by Mr Greens long-time private solicitor, Despina Bakis.
Ms Bakis, like Mr Green, is presently being investigated by the Independent Commission Against Corruption [ICAC] for her alleged involvement in the unauthorised sale of traditional Aboriginal land in Newcastle, Ms Maxwell-Williams noted.
The Crown would submit the complainant was coerced into signing that statement, Ms Maxwell-Williams said.
Mr Green, 60, who is represented by solicitor Chris OBrien, has been charged with two counts of sexual intercourse without consent, intentionally choking a person, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of contravening an AVO. He appeared in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday where Mr OBrien sought to vary his clients bail to remove all of the conditions, which include a curfew, daily reporting to police, a residence condition and an order banning him from having contact with the alleged victim.
At the same time, the alleged victim, who cannot be identified, was seeking an order to amend the apprehended domestic violence order so she could have contact with Mr Green.
When asked why she wanted to remove the conditions, the woman told Mr Stone: I have done a false allegation towards Richard before she was cut off by the magistrate.
Be careful what you say, Mr Stone told her. If you start putting on the record in court that youve made a false allegation you could find yourself subject to prosecution.
Mr OBrien told Mr Stone the woman had provided the DPP with two retraction statements, which state she made up the allegations, and had told the same to police.
Mr OBrien submitted that the woman could give evidence in court on Wednesday to explain the level of fear she had for Mr Green.
However, Mr Stone said he wanted her to get legal advice first and adjourned the matter to Friday.
