Tom Silvagni files appeal against rape conviction with Supreme Court

Tom Silvagni, the son of Carlton AFL great Steven and celebrity wife Jo, has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court against his rape conviction.

He was last month found guilty of two counts of rape for a January 2024 attack on a woman, known in court under the pseudonym Samantha Taylor, in his own home.

Silvagni was sentenced to six years and two months behind bars, eligible for parole after three years and three months.

Steven Silvagni previously vowed to clear his son’s name.

“Jo and I, together with our family members and friends, are so disappointed with the outcome,” he said, standing alongside Jo, outside court following a pre-sentence hearing in December.

“We all love and support our son, Tom. Our son continues to maintain his innocence and we stand firmly behind him.

“We will be considering our options to appeal and shall not be making any further comments on this case.

“Our goal is to clear his name and bring him home. We ask for our privacy and to be respectful.”

Silvagni had denied he digitally raped the woman at his Melbourne home in the early hours of January 14, 2024.

Taylor, who had a brief relationship with Silvagni’s friend Anthony LoGiudice, had been invited to join them all at the house by Silvagni’s girlfriend Alannah laconis.

The four of them chatted for some time before heading separately to bed and Taylor had consensual sex with LoGiudice.

He then had to leave so he organised an Uber and left the property shortly before 2am.

Silvagni then went to Taylor’s room and lied, telling her LoGiudice would be returning upstairs soon because his Uber had been cancelled.

But the court was told Silvagni instead went into the dark bedroom a short time later and pretended to be LoGiudice as he allegedly digitally raped the young woman.

She managed to move away and ask directly if he was Silvagni but he still claimed to be LoGiudice.

The court was told Silvagni then grabbed both of Ms Taylor’s hands, pinned her down and digitally raped her a second time as she told him to stop.

Taylor managed to get a hand free and felt his hair, which was longer than LoGiudice’s, and that’s when Silvagni stopped and ran from the room.

The jury heard Silvagni returned a few minutes later and acted as if nothing had happened, asking her if she was OK and requesting a hug before she left.

In the days that followed, Silvagni fabricated an Uber receipt to make it look like Mr LoGiudice had left his home after 2.30am.

Silvagni admitted forging the receipt but said he did so because he panicked after being falsely accused of rape.

But a County Court jury rejected his story, finding him guilty of two counts of rape on December 5.

In sentencing, Judge Gregory Lyon told the court Silvagni had lied and tried to undermine Taylor’s beliefs and prevent her from reporting the crime to police.

“Your conduct towards Samantha was egregious,” the judge said.

He noted while Taylor did not sustain physical injuries from the attack, she was left with psychological and emotional trauma.

The judge commended her for showing integrity throughout the court process.

“Ms Taylor’s demonstrated courage is hopefully a sign she is on the path to recovery,” Judge Lyon said.

Taylor, who was in court supported by family, wiped away tears at the judge’s comments while Jo Silvagni glared at her from across the room.

The judge told the court Silvagni had shown no remorse or insight into his offending, but accepted he was still a young man with no prior convictions.

Judge Lyon was critical of Silvagni’s actions towards Mr LoGiudice, saying he had tried to avoid taking any responsibility for his crimes.

“Your conduct towards Anthony, who had been a lifelong friend, in your own self-interest was utterly appalling and shameful,” he said.

He acknowledged Silvagni had diagnosed depression and his time in custody would be more difficult as a result.

Intense media scrutiny was also a form of additional punishment but the judge found the reporting had been objective and fair throughout the trial.

The appeal comes after St Kilda said they will continue to support Steven, the club’s AFL list manager, and his older son Jack, who joined from Carlton at the end of last year.

“We support all of our people. It’s obviously been a really challenging time for their family,” new football boss Lenny Hayes said.

“But we fully support Jack and Stephen. They’re fully committed to their roles this year, as we are to them.”

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

Lifeline 13 11 14

beyondblue 1300 22 4636

- with AAP