A mistrial has been declared in the Brisbane District Court case involving prominent Brisbane hairdresser Dmitri Stelios Papas.
The reason for the mistrial has not been made public, with much of the evidence this week heard in closed court. A new court date is yet to be set.
Papas, 49, has pleaded not guilty to six historical sexual assault charges and one count of rape involving four former employees at his high-end Brisbane CBD hair salon.
During opening submissions earlier this week, defence barrister Saul Holt described the salon as having a “highly sexualised” workplace culture.
He told the jury they would hear evidence of widespread physical affection and inappropriate humour within the salon environment.
“…You’ll hear about kissing, cuddling, tickling, bottom-touching, explicit jokes, videos, photographs, and even see some of those things in this trial,” Mr Holt said.
The court also heard allegations that Papas sexually assaulted three former employees and digitally raped another woman in the salon’s back rooms.
Crown prosecutor Joshua Francis said the prosecution case relied on similarities in the women’s accounts, including claims Papas allegedly touched them unexpectedly while at work and often from behind.
Mr Holt, however, argued the jury would hear evidence of one complainant “rewriting history” and “rallying others to her cause”.
The court was also told that Papas’ relationship with salon co-owner Justin Pace deteriorated following allegations made by one of the complainants.
A future listing date for the matter has not yet been confirmed.
Source: Courier Mail
