Lead
British YouTuber and rapper Yung Filly, real name Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, has been acquitted of raping a young fan after a concert in Perth, but could face a retrial after a jury was unable to agree on three further counts of rape. The entertainer was found guilty of two counts of assault causing bodily harm, as reported by ABC Australia.
Coverage Comparison
Coverage of the trial has been extensive, with ABC Australia and The Guardian — World providing detailed accounts of the proceedings. Reports from ABC Australia described the trial's opening, where graphic photographs of the alleged victim's injuries were shown to the jury, and later the verdict, which saw Barrientos acquitted of three counts of sexual penetration without consent, with the jury unable to reach a verdict on three additional counts. The Guardian — World focused on the allegations of violent assault, reporting that Yung Filly allegedly bit and slapped the woman during the encounter.
Key Claims
- Yung Filly is accused of violently raping a fan after a gig, as reported by ABC Australia and The Guardian — World.
- The alleged victim is a 20-year-old woman, according to multiple reports.
- The incident occurred in a Perth hotel room in September 2024, as reported by both outlets.
- Yung Filly denies all charges against him, a claim carried by both ABC Australia and The Guardian — World.
- The woman initially had consensual sex with Yung Filly, according to testimony reported by both outlets.
- Yung Filly allegedly bit and slapped the woman during the encounter, as stated in reports from The Guardian — World and ABC Australia.
- Yung Filly was acquitted of raping a young fan, a claim carried by a single outlet.
- The jury was unable to agree on three further counts of rape, as reported by ABC Australia.
- Yung Filly was found guilty of two counts of assault causing bodily harm, according to ABC Australia.
- Graphic photographs of the woman's injuries were shown to the jury, as reported by ABC Australia.
Trial Details
The trial heard that Barrientos met the woman at Bar1, a nightclub in Perth's northern suburbs, after his performance. The woman, who had a "celebrity crush" on Yung Filly, was invited to the VIP area and later left with the rapper and his entourage. They went to the Intercontinental Hotel in Perth's CBD, where the pair had consensual sex, according to testimony reported by ABC Australia and The Guardian — World.
Prosecutor Danielle Clarke told the court that the encounter turned violent, with Barrientos allegedly biting and slapping the woman, and that she told him to stop. The court heard graphic evidence, including photographs of bruises and bite marks on the woman's face, neck, and breast, as reported by ABC Australia.
Barrientos, taking the witness stand, denied choking and slapping the woman but admitted to biting her, saying "In England we would call it a love bite." He also said the "vibes were good" between them, as reported by ABC Australia. The defense argued that the sex was consensual, with Barrientos describing it as "great."
After an eight-day trial, the jury found Barrientos not guilty of three counts of sexual penetration without consent, but failed to reach a verdict on three additional counts. He was also found not guilty of two charges of slapping and choking. The jury did find him guilty of two counts of assault causing bodily harm. Barrientos wept after the verdict was handed down, according to ABC Australia. He is due to return to court next month for sentencing.
Perspectives
- Prosecution: The prosecutor, Danielle Clarke, argued that the encounter was non-consensual, with the woman explicitly telling Barrientos to stop. The prosecution presented evidence of injuries and alleged that Barrientos became violent after initial consensual sex.
- Defense: Barrientos, through his barrister, maintained that the sex was consensual, denying allegations of choking and slapping, but admitting to biting, which he characterized as "love bites." He described the interaction as positive and consensual.