Convicted rapist Tom Silvagni has launched a formal appeal against his guilty verdict and subsequent prison sentence for a brutal sexual assault that took place in his Melbourne home earlier this year.
The Assault and Deception
In the early hours of January 14, 2024, a young woman, known under the pseudonym Samantha Taylor, was digitally raped by Silvagni under a cloak of deliberate deception. Ms Taylor had been invited to the property by Silvagni's girlfriend, Alannah Iaconis, and had spent the evening with the couple and Silvagni's friend, Anthony LoGiudice.
After Ms Taylor had consensual sex with Mr LoGiudice and he left the house, Silvagni went to her room. He falsely claimed that Mr LoGiudice's Uber had been cancelled and he would be returning. Exploiting the darkness, Silvagni then pretended to be his friend as he carried out the first digital rape.
When Ms Taylor managed to pull away and directly ask if he was Silvagni, he maintained the lie. He then grabbed both her hands, pinned her down, and assaulted her a second time as she told him to stop. She only realised his true identity when she felt his longer hair, at which point Silvagni fled the room.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
A County Court jury rejected Silvagni's denial of the attacks, finding him guilty of two counts of rape on December 5. In November, Judge Gregory Lyon sentenced Silvagni to six years and two months in jail, with eligibility for parole after serving three years and three months.
Judge Lyon condemned Silvagni's "callous" lies and "egregious" conduct, designed to undermine the victim's belief in what happened and prevent her from reporting the crime. The judge noted the profound psychological trauma inflicted on Ms Taylor and commended her courage throughout the trial.
The court also heard that Silvagni had fabricated an Uber receipt after the fact to alter the timeline and bolster his false alibi. He admitted to forging the document but claimed it was done in panic after a false accusation.
Appeal and Aftermath
On Wednesday morning, Silvagni formally filed appeal documents with the Supreme Court of Victoria, challenging both his conviction and sentence. This move follows his parents' public declaration of their son's innocence and their earlier indication that an appeal was imminent.
During the sentencing hearing, the court was told Silvagni had shown no remorse or insight into his crimes. Judge Lyon did, however, acknowledge his young age, lack of prior convictions, and diagnosed depression, which would make his time in custody more difficult.
The case attracted significant media attention, which the judge acknowledged as an additional burden, though he found the reporting to have been fair. Outside court following the sentence, Silvagni's mother, Jo Silvagni, was seen shoving a female reporter and telling her to leave.
