A high-profile Sydney man charged with raping two women will face a retrial after a jury could not reach a verdict on the charges earlier this year.
Guardian Australia cannot name the man due to a suppression order. However, the court will hear a joint challenge by the media to review that order on 10 December.
The man appeared at Sydney’s Downing Centre on Friday, where the retrial date was set for 20 October. He is facing five charges, which include three counts of having sexual intercourse without consent.
In August, the man faced a six-week trial after he pleaded not guilty to nine charges – including five counts of rape – alleged to have occurred over a three-year period against five women on separate occasions.
A jury found the man not guilty on four out of the nine charges, which included two counts of rape against two of the women. He was also acquitted of indecently assaulting a 21-year-old woman.
The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the remaining five charges alleged by three women.
The court heard on Friday that the retrial, which will begin on 20 October 2025, will be split into two separate trials.
The first trial will hear evidence from one woman who, the crown alleges, was assaulted by the man when he grabbed her by the throat. On another occasion, the crown alleges, he threatened to distribute an intimate video of her.
The second trial will hear evidence from two women who are unknown to each other. The crown alleges he had sexual intercourse with them without their consent.
