Perth bikie Troy Mercanti was facing rape and assault charges after a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her at his home. However, the complainant in the case withdrew her allegations, leading to the charges being dropped. During a court appearance, it was revealed that the woman no longer wanted to proceed with the accusations against Mercanti. Earlier in the week, the court heard details of the incident, which allegedly took place after the woman met Mercanti and businessman John Kizon at a nightclub in Northbridge. The group then went back to Mercanti’s mother’s home, where the alleged assault occurred after consuming alcohol and cocaine.
Prosecutors claimed that Mercanti digitally raped the woman, backhanded her, and forced himself on her in a bathroom. The victim managed to escape by pleading for help when someone opened the bathroom door. She then sought help from a neighbour and reported the incident to the police. Prosecutors argued that the victim feared for her life due to Mercanti’s affiliation with a bikie gang and alleged that she was being intimidated online through messages from Mercanti’s friends. Despite these concerns, Mercanti was released on bail, and the case was set to proceed through the legal system until the charges were dropped by the withdrawn accusations.
The decision to drop the charges against Mercanti came after the complainant decided not to proceed with the allegations. The woman’s change of heart led to the case being dismissed, and Mercanti no longer faces the rape and assault charges that were initially brought against him. The court appearance where the complainant withdrew her accusations marked the end of the legal proceedings against Mercanti in relation to this specific incident. The case had attracted public attention due to Mercanti’s reputation as a bikie and the seriousness of the allegations made against him.
Despite the serious nature of the allegations and the efforts to keep Mercanti in custody due to safety concerns for the victim, he was ultimately released on bail. The prosecution argued that the victim feared for her life and was being intimidated online, but these factors did not prevent Mercanti from being granted bail. The decision to release Mercanti on bail ultimately led to the case being dismissed once the complainant withdrew her allegations. The legal proceedings, which initially seemed to be heading towards a trial, came to an end with this unexpected turn of events. Mercanti is no longer facing charges in relation to the alleged assault, bringing closure to this particular case.
