I did what I could for Gemma. I listened. She talked, remonstrated, berated herself, felt guilty, felt like she had brought it all on herself. A month on, she seemed stronger. She seemed to be starting to separate herself from what had happened to her. It was a slow peeling away, like Gemma and the park had melted together in a pyroclastic event. But even lava cools eventually, its final shape dictated by what was in its path.

And so the Gemma who sat opposite me and drank her coffee was not the same girl she was before Noah Shepherd got her against a wall in the park.

And knowing her, helping her, was slowly changing me. The veil between my two worlds was being pulled back; Gemma’s story invaded the apartment I shared with Daniel, destined to spoil and sour all it touched.

RECORD OF INTERVIEW, RADIO TRANSCRIPT

RECORD OF INTERVIEW, RADIO TRANSCRIPT

Record of Conversation between Detective Senior Constable Antigone Pollard and Noelene Shepherd conducted at the residence of Noelene Shepherd, 18 Dellacourt Ave, Toorak, Wednesday, 14 February, 12.20 pm

Well of course she’s lying. I know she is. Our QC will prove it in court. My Noah would never do what she’s accused him of. I mean, he’s nearly finished a Bachelor of Economics, for goodness sake. What? You think he’s an honour student by day and a rapist by night? Anyway, I heard she lives in Brunswick. She’s got no idea who she’s dealing with. Noah comes from a good family. My husband and I are members of the tennis club. We’re Rotarians! Clearly the girl is deranged. She thinks she can point the finger at the first wealthy boy she sees and ruin his life. We will ruin her in court. We will make her pay for what she’s done to our son. You’ve got no idea how he has suffered because of this!

Interview with commentator Drew Nayle, radio station 3PPP, Thursday, 25 January, 9.37 am

Drew Nayle: We are inviting listeners to call in this morning about a case that’s hit the media. A young woman has accused a young man of rape at a nightclub. Now, they’ve both had a lot to drink, and a little fumbling out in a nearby park led to a sexual encounter. He says it was consensual and she says it wasn’t—after she sobered up, of course, listeners. These kinds of cases are on the rise, clogging up the court systems. Queensland has what I’d regard as a very sensible ‘mistake of fact’ defence which protects people who thought consent was present, even if the woman changes her mind the next day. So, call in and tell us what you think … Here we go: first caller. Go ahead, Michael from Clayton.