A Dutch Tourist Was Held Hostage and Raped 62 Times in a Hotel in Melbourne

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UP to 450 hours of video footage needs to be examined over allegations a Dutch tourist was held hostage and routinely raped and tortured in a Melbourne hotel, a court has heard.

Alfio Anthony Granata, 46, appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court this morning for a brief mention hearing where the case was adjourned to allow more time to examine evidence.

He has been charged with more than 100 offences, including 62 counts of rape, 94 counts of assault and 10 counts of threatening to kill.

The court heard prosecutors and Mr Granata needed time to view about 450 hours of video footage allegedly recorded during the six-week period covering the alleged offending.

A police summary filed with the court at an earlier hearing alleges the 21-year-old tourist was subjected to physical assaults, death threats, sexual abuse and mental trauma spanning a brutal six weeks in November and December last year.

Police allege after meeting Mr Granata and co-accused Jennifer Peaston at a birthday party in St Kilda, the alleged victim was held hostage and tortured under the threat of death if she tried to escape.

The victim allegedly told police in the time she was kept at the hotel - the Rydges Preston - there was only "4 or 5" days where she was not subjected to horrific abuse.

The police summary has detailed dozens of violent incidents the Herald Sun has chosen not to publish.

The summary alleges Mr Granata told the alleged victim he was possessed by a demon and that she had been "marked for death".

He allegedly became jealous because he believed the tourist and Ms Peaston were engaging in sex acts without him.

At times the victim was allegedly punched in the face for talking out of turn, beaten with household objects and burnt with a gas torch lighter.

Police alleged the victim was often "banished to the shower after being raped or beaten (and) was often left to sleep on the wet shower floor naked''.

The victim was allegedly forced to smoke drugs and take part in sex acts with the couple. Many were videoed.

The summary alleged while being held hostage the victim was forced to either look only at Granata or at the floor and keep low to the ground at all times.

She was also allegedly barred from trying to block any of the accused's kicks or punches.

If she broke any of the rules, police allege she would be beaten harder and longer than if she was compliant.

She was also forced to take cold showers to reduce any signs of assault, it was alleged.

"She lived in fear of beatings if she upset the accused in any way,'' police alleged in the summary.

"(The victim's) mental state deteriorated as a result of the abuse.''

It is alleged Granata grew gradually more unpredictable and claimed to be possessed by a demon or the spirit of his grandfather.

On one occasion Granata told his victim and Ms Peaston that he wanted them to kill each other, it was alleged.

"The accused was convinced (the victim) was trying to steal the co-accused away from him and stated that she was 'going after his missus' and therefore was 'acting like a man' so she had to be able to take a beating like a man," police claim.

On one occasion, while allegedly possessed, he told her she was certain to die and bit her on the lip and neck.

"He stomped on (her) head, legs, back and chest and told her that she had until Christmas to do good by him or she would be dead by new years," police alleged.

On Christmas Eve, a day before she escaped, police allege the victim was subjected to a bizarre ritual where she was told "the killing has begun''.

"Your death is certain, before that happens, you will be begging for it," he allegedly told her.

"I will hurt you so bad that you will need life support for weeks, and when you're better, I will start all over again.''

Granata then allegedly forced the victim to cut her fingernails, toenails and hair and place them in an envelope along with some of her blood.

"The co-accused then passed the accused a lit candle, he used the hot wax to seal the envelope and poured some over (the victim's) body," police alleged.

"The accused told (the victim) that the ritual was to symbolise that her being was no more."

The following morning the victim stabbed Mr Granata while he was sleeping and then attempted to kill herself.

Police alleged Mr Granata and Ms Peaston panicked and called 000.

Mr Granata and victim were both taken to hospital where she remained for four weeks.

Police later seized a large amount of video footage allegedly recorded on cameras by Mr Granata that captured a large amount of the brutal violent and sexual acts.

Both were remanded in custody to reappear in court on August 30.

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http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law...-1226678417132


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