Entertainment industry and AFL figure Ralph Carr says he is in “living hell” and has been “destroyed” after being convicted of rape, a Victorian court has heard. Carr was convicted of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault after a trial in the county court of Victoria last month. He pleaded not guilty to the offences, which were committed against a former employee in March 2023.
On Monday, the court heard that Carr told psychiatrist Dr Jacqueline Rakov that he had deliberately hit his head while in custody as an act of self-harm and was having three to four panic attacks a day. Rakov appeared during what is known as a sentencing or plea hearing, where submissions are made by the defence and prosecution regarding the sentence that should be handed down by a judge. Dermot Dann KC, for Carr, said that a 14 August report from Rakov based on three video conversations she had with him while he was in custody in the Melbourne Assessment prison also detailed that he spent 23 hours a day on lockdown in his prison cell.
But now, the situation is completely different.” Dann said Rakov was concerned Carr could kill himself if his application for a stay on his sentence was denied. Dann said it was unclear whether Carr was being held in 23-hour lockdown because of his risk of self-harm or because he was a high-profile inmate who could be at risk of harm from others. Carr told Rakov he also had been recommended for hospital transportation twice because of his blood pressure, which had reached rates above 200, and was barely sleeping or eating.
Rakov is also giving evidence on Monday. She has previously given evidence at other hearings for Carr in relation to his application for a suppression order. Dann said it was accepted that Carr would receive a significant sentence for “very serious” offending.
But he said Carr’s lack of previous criminal history, prior good character and work record, his role within his family, and the impact his incarceration has had on him and others were all matters which should be considered in mitigation. Dann also said that as Carr maintained his innocence it was accepted he would not get a discount for showing remorse, or pleading guilty to the charges. Dann said he understood no victim impact statement would be tendered but it was accepted the offences had an impact on the former employee of Carr.
The assault occurred in March 2023, after the woman said she spent an evening drinking and taking cocaine with Carr, 66, while listening to music and watching football at his friend’s home. Both the prosecution and defence argued the most important witness was the alleged victim, who gave evidence over more than four days before a closed court. Carr did not give evidence during the trial.
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