Heuskes denies rape claims

[Bleed Red Blood]

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,9463784-23211,00.html

Heuskes denies rape claims
May 4, 2004

AFL player Adam Heuskes was last night considering his legal options as a television program aired graphic details of two rape investigations.

An Australian woman has accused Heuskes of raping her in a London hotel five years ago, while ABC's Four Corners program last night also investigated an incident allegedly involving the player in Adelaide in 2000.

The alleged victim of the London incident, identified only as Sarah, claimed Heuskes raped her in a hotel room with at least four Brisbane Lions teammates present.

Scotland Yard investigated the London matter, but no charges were laid.

Heuskes yesterday denied the Four Corners allegations.

Following an unrelated incident 10 months later, Heuskes and Port Adelaide player Peter Burgoyne were charged with raping a woman outside an Adelaide nightclub.

South Australian Director of Public Prosecutions Paul Rofe later withdrew the charges.

Heuskes' lawyer Craig Caldicott said Heuskes watched last night's program with some interest.

"He will either be issuing a statement (today) or instructing us to institute legal proceedings," he said.

In Adelaide, Heuskes and Burgoyne had been in the company of Sydney Swans star Michael O'Loughlin, who was not charged or interviewed by police.

It emerged two months ago that the three footballers and the alleged victim were bound by a confidentiality agreement, barring any comment on the Adelaide allegations.

The players contributed to a $200,000 payment to the woman as part of the agreement.

Four Corners last night revealed details of a taped interview involving the Adelaide woman, made in 2001 before the confidentiality agreement was signed.

The woman said in her statement that Burgoyne had offered to take her outside the Adelaide nightclub for a walk, then led her into parklands, where she was allegedly raped.

Speaking on the program, an unidentified cousin of the alleged Adelaide victim questioned Mr Rofe's decision to withdraw charges.

Mr Rofe, who resigned yesterday as DPP, was a board member at AFL club Adelaide at the time of the investigation.

"His ties within the AFL were far stronger than what they should be for someone making a decision against AFL players," she said.

Heuskes played for Sydney, Port Adelaide and Brisbane before retiring from the AFL in 2000. He now plays for SANFL club North Adelaide, whose chief executive Glenn Elliott would not comment further yesterday.

Port Adelaide fined Burgoyne $5000 for misconduct over the 2000 incident, saying he put himself at risk by attending the nightclub.