Malaysian pilot Alfred Eravelly jailed for 1996 rape of Perth woman
Updated
An airline pilot has been sentenced to 13 years in jail for breaking into the home of a Perth woman more than 20 years ago, tying her up and repeatedly sexually assaulting her.
Alfred Gerard Eravelly, 50, was charged with the crime last year when he passed through Sydney on his way to New Zealand with his family, and unbeknown to him there was a warrant for his arrest.
The District Court was told detectives had matched samples taken from the 1996 crime scene, with Eravelly's DNA, which was on an international database, because he had committed what was described as a minor sexual offence in Florida in 2000.
Eravelly was studying in Perth in 1996. On the night of the attack he armed himself with a knife and covered his head with a stocking before entering the then 38-year-old woman's Scarborough home through a bathroom window.
He tied her hands behind her back and blindfolded her before repeatedly sexually assaulting her.
Eravelly denied any wrongdoing, maintaining he met the woman at a hotel and they had consensual sex, but earlier this year he was found guilty by a jury of eight charges including burglary, deprivation of liberty and sexual penetration without consent.
The court heard that in the intervening 20 years, Eravelly married, had two children and was living in Penang.
At the time of his arrest last year he was working as a pilot for Air Asia.
Eravelly humiliated by 'manifest publicity'
Eravelly's lawyer Tom Percy QC said his client would suffer more than others in prison because he was separated from "his strong network of support in Malaysia", including his wife who is a flight attendant.
The court heard she sat through the trial and the sentencing hearing, and was supportive of her husband.
Mr Percy said Eravelly had been humiliated by his arrest and the trial which received what he called "manifest publicity" both in Australia and Malaysia.
He also submitted Eravelly had "completely rehabilitated" himself, saying that for the last 15 years, "he's been nothing other than a model citizen, employee and father.".
No remorse for harrowing attack: judge
Judge Philip Eaton said he had no hesitation in finding that Eravelly's account of events "was fabricated" and that it had been "roundly rejected by the jury".
He said Eravelly remained in denial about what had happened which meant had no remorse or victim empathy.
Judge Eaton described the attack as terrifying, harrowing and disturbing, and said Eravelly had preyed upon his victim who was alone in her own home.
Eravelly will have to serve 11 years before he can be released.
With time already served he will be eligible for release on parole in 2028.
