Defence appeals rape conviction of ex-Wah!Banana actor, alleging woman fabricated evidence
Defence lawyers for Lev Panfilov argued that the woman's accounts were inconsistent and urged the court to acquit the Russian man of all charges.
Former Wah!Banana actor Lev Panfilov's defence team has appealed his rape conviction, arguing that key inconsistencies exist in the victim's account and that her evidence appears fabricated. The Russian national, serving an 11-and-a-half-year jail sentence, was convicted based on the woman's testimony and the lack of witnesses. Panfilov maintains he had consensual sex with the woman, who met him on Tinder.
The defence argues that the woman's story changed after the alleged assault, and that she fabricated evidence by obtaining a memo from a doctor stating she had injuries and felt raped. They also highlight inconsistencies in the woman's account, such as her claiming to have screamed during the alleged assault but later saying she wanted to scream but could not.
The defence questions why the woman did not leave the apartment immediately after the incident, noting that CCTV footage shows her leaving the lift lobby calmly and with all her hair in place.
Written by urgent.news from CNA - Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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