Dustin Martin has issued a statement after former manager Ralph Carnovale-Carr was publicly identified following the collapse of an attempt to keep his name suppressed.
On Tuesday, a jury in Melbourne found Carnovale-Carr, 66, guilty of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault at the end of a two-week trial.
Carnovale-Carr first built his profile in the 1990s in the music industry, where he managed singer-songwriter Tina Arena and other artists. He later married Ms Arena for four years. He eventually shifted into sports management and signed Richmond superstar Dustin Martin as a marquee client. Ms Arena and Mr Martin have not been accused of any wrongdoing.
According to SEN’s Sam Edmund, Martin responded in a statement released on Monday.
“I was shocked to learn of the outcome of the court proceedings,” Martin said.
“I had no knowledge whatsoever of the conduct that led to these convictions. My thoughts are with those affected.
“Effective immediately, I have ended my professional relationship with my former manager.
“As this is a legal matter, I will not be making any further comment.”
For more than three years, news outlets were unable to publish Carnovale-Carr’s identity while the case worked its way through the courts under multiple suppression orders.
Those restrictions were made on the same mental health grounds that prevented convicted rapist Tom Silvagni from being named. Judicial officers accepted evidence that identifying Carnovale-Carr would worsen his psychological condition.
In the final stage of the trial, his lawyers successfully sought a temporary suppression order so they could argue for the restriction to remain.
That changed on Monday when his legal team said the application would be abandoned.
“Your Honour, the position is our client has instructed us not to proceed with the application for the suppression order,” Defence barrister Dermot Dann KC said.
Media organisations had been ready to contest the bid to keep his name secret.
The court had earlier been told that Carnovale-Carr once said to his psychiatrist, “If I’m guilty put me on the front page”, although Judge Frank Gucciardo cautioned that it seemed to be a “throwaway line”.
On July 28, Carnovale-Carr reacted with visible shock and emotion as the jury unanimously found him guilty on all charges. He threw himself back in his chair, then bowed forward with his mouth open.
He was taken into custody and is expected to face a pre-sentence hearing later this month.
