General
‘I don’t deserve your forgiveness’: Man who raped sleeping woman in Parkside home apologises
A man found guilty of breaking into a Parkside home and raping a woman in her bed has apologised, reading a letter to his victim in the District Court.
Key points:
- The District Court heard Benfell watched his victim fall asleep before he raped her
- He apologised for his crime, saying he did not deserve the woman’s forgiveness
- Benfell’s defence lawyer said he believed the apology was genuine
Michael Paul Benfell, 26, walked into the house through an unlocked back door before getting into bed with the sleeping woman in April 2018.
The District Court heard on Wednesday Benfell had waited in a different bedroom, where he left shoes, and watched until his victim fell asleep before attacking her.
Prosecutor Jemma Litster said he had waited in a…
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