Manager Ralph Carr unmasked as man found guilty of rape

Leading entertainment and sports agent Ralph Carr can be revealed as the man who raped a younger woman in his own home.

Carr, who was behind the careers of ex-AFL star Dustin Martin, singer Kate Ceberano and ex-wife Tina Arena, kept his name and identity hidden from media reporting connected to the case for almost three years.

During his trial he was referred to as a “well-connected man”, but he can now be publicly identified as a convicted rapist after he withdrew his application for a continued suppression order.

Carr was put behind bars on July 28 after a Victorian County Court jury found him guilty of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault.

Former AFL star Martin, who won three premierships with Richmond, said he was shocked to learn of the outcome and had ended his professional relationship with Carr “effective immediately”.

“I had no knowledge whatsoever of the conduct that led to these convictions. My thoughts are with those affected,” he said in a statement.

Carr assaulted the younger woman at his Melbourne home in the early hours of March 24, 2023.

The woman was previously employed by Carr and she reconnected with him for more work opportunities the day before, the jury was told.

She agreed to go over to his place on the afternoon of March 23 and they discussed work before listening to music, drinking wine together and using cocaine, prosecutors said.

The pair went to Carr’s place to watch the football and she returned to his home after 10.30pm, where they continued to use drugs and alcohol, the jury was told.

The woman became emotional while discussing a recent break-up and Carr hugged her and said he would take care of her before kissing her.

The woman pushed Carr away but he began touching her breasts, waist and buttocks.

She told him to stop but he said he couldn’t because she was “so sexy”, the jury was told.

The woman was holding a pillow and crying into it as Carr raped her twice.

Carr’s identity has been suppressed since his first court hearing in September 2023, with his lawyers arguing the order was necessary to protect his safety.

It was due to expire when the jury handed down its verdicts on Tuesday, but Carr’s barrister Dermot Dann KC applied to have the order extended.

Mr Dann had claimed extending the order was necessary to protect his client from an elevated risk of self-harm and suicide but, come Monday, said Carr had had a change of heart.

“The position is that our client has instructed us not to proceed with the application for suppression order,” he told the court.

Carr’s name had been leaked on social media and in online forums, but media were prevented from reporting it due to the gag order.

Mr Dann said Carr continued to maintain his innocence and planned to apply for a rare stay on his sentence, pending an appeal hearing against his convictions.

Carr’s bail was revoked after the guilty verdicts and he was taken into custody, where he will remain until a pre-sentence hearing at a later date.

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