December 4th 2024.
An elderly man, who has been working as a hairdresser for many years, breathed a sigh of relief as he walked out of the courtroom, finally cleared of the accusations that had been looming over him. Emilio D'Aguanno, 80 years young, had been facing charges of historic rape involving three teenage girls who were once his clients. It was a long and difficult journey for him, but he can now rest easy knowing that he has been declared innocent.
The alleged incidents took place decades ago, between 1977 and 1991. The prosecution claimed that D'Aguanno had sexually assaulted an 18-year-old and a 15-year-old in separate occasions, while working at his salon in Rose Bay. However, the accused vehemently denied these claims, stating that while he did have a sexual encounter with the 15-year-old, it was consensual and only happened after she turned 16. He was also accused of raping another woman, aged 17 or 18, at his apartment in Rushcutters Bay during 1989 and 1991.
D'Aguanno, originally from Italy, had moved to Australia in 1969 and had established a successful hairdressing business in Rose Bay. He then expanded his business to the iconic Queen Victoria Building, where he catered to many clients in the affluent Sydney suburb. Unfortunately, his peaceful life was turned upside down when these allegations surfaced, and he had to endure a retrial in November after the jury was unable to reach a verdict in the first trial.
But on Thursday, justice was served as the jury found him not guilty of three counts of sexual assault, one count of rape, and an alternative count of carnal knowledge. Throughout the trial, D'Aguanno's defence team had maintained that he had a healthy and consensual sex life, which sometimes included his clients. And finally, their arguments were heard and accepted, clearing D'Aguanno's name once and for all.
For anyone who may be struggling with similar experiences, there are support services available such as Lifeline and Beyond Blue who can be reached at 13 11 14 and 1300 22 4636, respectively. Kids Helpline can also provide assistance to young individuals at 1800 55 1800. Let us all hope that this innocent man can now put this chapter behind him and move on with his life.
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