Sharni
08-05-2003, 01:39 PM
A MAN who "took advantage" of a woman he found sleeping in his bed was yesterday ordered to pay her $37,500 in criminal compensation.
In February last year, a District Court jury in Brisbane convicted Philip Steven Corvo, 24, of two counts of sexual assault on a woman, on November 6, 1999.
The trial heard that the woman, 21, met a man at a night club and went with him to a unit in the inner city suburb of Spring Hill.
They had consensual sex and the man left, leaving the woman asleep.
The trial heard that Corvo, who lived at the unit, arrived home and found the woman asleep in his bed.
He performed two sex acts on her but was disturbed when the other man returned and the woman realised that Corvo was not her earlier sexual partner.
Judge Michael Shanahan found Corvo had been under the influence of alcohol, and had acted impulsively.
He further found Corvo had been placed under an added strain after a magistrate originally refused to commit him to trial but the Department of Public Prosecution then proceeded on an ex-officio indictment.
However, Judge Shanahan said that in the end it was a case where Corvo had taken advantage of the woman and disregarded any of her rights.
Corvo was sentenced to 12 months jail to be suspended after four months.
After the conviction the woman sued Corvo for criminal compensation, alleging she had suffered mental and nervous shock and other psychological injuries.
Barrister Tony Kimmins, for the woman, said psychiatric evidence showed she had suffered major problems including no longer trusting men.
Judge Shanahan yesterday found the woman's mental injury to be in the serious category and ordered that Corvo pay her $37,500 in compensation.
In February last year, a District Court jury in Brisbane convicted Philip Steven Corvo, 24, of two counts of sexual assault on a woman, on November 6, 1999.
The trial heard that the woman, 21, met a man at a night club and went with him to a unit in the inner city suburb of Spring Hill.
They had consensual sex and the man left, leaving the woman asleep.
The trial heard that Corvo, who lived at the unit, arrived home and found the woman asleep in his bed.
He performed two sex acts on her but was disturbed when the other man returned and the woman realised that Corvo was not her earlier sexual partner.
Judge Michael Shanahan found Corvo had been under the influence of alcohol, and had acted impulsively.
He further found Corvo had been placed under an added strain after a magistrate originally refused to commit him to trial but the Department of Public Prosecution then proceeded on an ex-officio indictment.
However, Judge Shanahan said that in the end it was a case where Corvo had taken advantage of the woman and disregarded any of her rights.
Corvo was sentenced to 12 months jail to be suspended after four months.
After the conviction the woman sued Corvo for criminal compensation, alleging she had suffered mental and nervous shock and other psychological injuries.
Barrister Tony Kimmins, for the woman, said psychiatric evidence showed she had suffered major problems including no longer trusting men.
Judge Shanahan yesterday found the woman's mental injury to be in the serious category and ordered that Corvo pay her $37,500 in compensation.