Men charged over 'aggressively' raping woman 'in worst way'
A rape victim said she is relieved after Queensland Police charged two men who allegedly sexually assaulted her in an alleyway more than five years ago in Brisbane.
Inspector Rod Kemp said at the time the woman "was aggressively raped in the worst way I have seen in my service" and "animals don't do that to each other".
On Wednesday morning police arrested a 24-year-old man in Brisbane and a 32-year-old man in northern NSW.
A 24-year-old from Auchenflower and a 32-year-old were both arrested over the rape of the 20-year-old woman from over five years ago. Source: QLD Police
The pair are known to one another and both face charges of rape, sexual assault and deprivation of liberty.
The younger Auchenflower man will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday morning while Queensland detectives are travelling to Lismore to seek the extradition of his co-accused.
On 15 April 2011, the 20-year-old was walking along Manning Street, South Brisbane, to catch a bus home after leaving a nearby venue late at night when she was set upon.
Two men allegedly forced her into an alleyway and she suffered severe internal and external injuries during the attack.
A re-enactment shows the men pull her down an alleyway along Manning Street, South Brisbane in 2011. Photo: QLD Police
Last month, police launched a review of the case with detectives from the sex crime unit joining the investigation.
Detective Inspector Garry Watts would not reveal what new information led to the breakthrough, but said the renewed appeal played a role.
"It (the new appeal) certainly assisted, yes, I can say that," he said in Brisbane.
"We have received a lot of information from the public both recently and back in 2011."
Inspector Rod Kemp said at the time the woman "was aggressively raped in the worst way I have seen in my service". Photo: QLD Police
Det Insp Watts said the victim had been told of the development.
"She expressed relief that the two offenders have been caught and are currently before the courts," he said.
Police thanked the public for the response to last week's renewed call and said the matter was never labelled as "too hard" and should give other victims hope their matters would also be finalised.
"We do not ever classify a matter as unsolvable," Det Insp Watts said.
"It's always unsolved until solved."
Det Insp Watts said forensic evidence was still being retested using modern techniques.
