Former prison worker found guilty of raping inmate
After deliberating for just over two hours, a jury found former prison worker Enio Screpanti guilty of the rape and aggravated indecent assault of a female inmate.
A 67-year-old former prison worker, Enio Screpanti, has been found guilty of raping and committing aggravated indecent assault on a female inmate at an Adelaide jail. The trial, which took place in South Australia's District Court, lasted four days. Screpanti, who initially pleaded not guilty, was found guilty after just over two hours of deliberation by a 12-person jury.
The victim, described as a "credible and reliable witness", testified about the sexual assault that occurred in the prison gym and a subsequent rape in a shed. Prosecutor Christine Hanna asked the court to revoke Screpanti's bail, citing the seriousness of the offense, while his defense barrister Gilbert Aitken opposed the request.
Judge Anne Barnett decided to remand Screpanti in custody pending a pre-sentence hearing. The jury was also presented with evidence from fellow inmate Nicole McGuinness regarding uncharged acts to provide context. In his closing statements, Aitken claimed there was a lack of CCTV footage and deemed the victim's evidence unsatisfactory.
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