CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses rape.
The unidentified woman who was raped by 23-year-old Melbourne man Tom Silvagni has confronted him in court, calling his actions “calculated” and “evil”.
The complainant, whose identity remains legally protected, delivered a powerful victim impact statement on Friday during Silvagni’s pre-sentence hearing in the County Court.
Silvagni, the youngest son of Carlton great Stephen Silvagni, appeared in prison greens and remained expressionless on a video link as the woman addressed the court.
His parents, Stephen and Jo, entered the courtroom only after she had finished reading her statement.
“Tom Silvagni, you raped me not once but twice,” she told the court. “You know this, I know this and now so does everyone else. You can continue denying [it] for the rest of your life. But deep down you were very much aware of what you did.”
She described his actions as “premeditated” and “calculated”, slamming him for “violating” her trust, as well as her body.
“I have nightmares of you raping me … you holding me down and me trying to scream but no noise coming out of my mouth,” she said.
“It’s actually terrifying that someone you thought you knew and trusted could do something so evil. You got some kind of sick satisfaction out of immobilising me and raping me,” she said.
Silvagni was named yesterday as the high profile man found guilty of rape, after the Country Court of Victoria lifted a suppression order. It came almost two weeks after he was found guilty on two rape charges, with Judge Andrew Palmer saying that “at some point, he will have to reconcile himself to the reality that he has committed these offences and there’s media interest in them and there are consequences”.
During the two-week trial, the court heard that in January 2024, Silvagni impersonated a friend, entered a bedroom where the victim was sleeping, and raped her twice.
As a result of the rape, the victim says she has now altered the way she “trusts”, “sleeps” and “moves through the world”.
“This decision of yours has impacted me for the rest of my life,” she said.
“You were my friend, someone I thought I could trust,” she continued, adding that: “I’ve finally got the justice I’ve deserved. I stand here knowing you don’t have power over my life anymore.
“You will be held accountable and I will move forward.”
Help is available.
If you’re in distress, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or chat online. If it’s an emergency, please call 000.
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