Ralph Carr jailed for six years after raping woman at his home multiple times
Ralph Carr, a former celebrity talent agent prosecuted under his full name Ralph Carnovale-Carr, has been jailed for a maximum of six years after a jury found he raped a woman twice at his Melbourne home in March 2023. The 66-year-old appeared via videolink from Melbourne Assessment Prison for sentencing at Melbourne County Court, where Judge Frank Gucciardo described his conduct as "appalling" and rape as a crime of violence. The case is notable given Carr's public profile as a music industry figure once married to singer Tina Arena and closely associated with AFL star Dustin Martin.
The court heard the assault occurred in the early hours of 24 March 2023 after the woman, referred to by the pseudonym "Sally," became emotional discussing a break-up; Carr began kissing and touching her despite her attempts to push him away and told her he could not stop because she was "so sexy." Carr was convicted of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault, while his barrister, Dermot Dann KC, argued the verdicts were "the most obvious miscarriage of justice" he had seen in over three decades of legal practice and sought a stay of sentence. Carr appeared visibly emotional during sentencing, and the woman did not submit a victim impact statement to the court.
- Ralph Carr jailed for six years after rape convictions in Melbourne
- Victim assaulted at his home in the early hours of 24 March 2023
- Defence called the verdict a "miscarriage of justice"; judge called conduct "appalling"
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Ralph Carr is a former celebrity talent agent in the Australian music industry, previously married to singer Tina Arena and known for his links to AFL star Dustin Martin. He has just been sentenced to a maximum of six years in prison after a jury convicted him of raping a woman twice, and sexually assaulting her once, at his Melbourne home in the early hours of 24 March 2023.
The trial centred on events after the woman, given the pseudonym "Sally", became upset while talking about a break-up, with prosecutors alleging Carr assaulted her despite her attempts to stop him. Carr, 66, was tried under his full name, Ralph Carnovale-Carr, and has consistently maintained his innocence, with his defence barrister arguing strongly against the jury's verdict.
The case has drawn attention because of Carr's public profile and industry connections, and it centres on serious questions of consent and sexual violence that were tested and decided by a jury at Melbourne County Court.