February 25, 2004 - Daily Telegraph -
http://www.news.com.au
FOUR Bulldogs players have agreed to DNA tests as the young woman alleging she was pack raped at a coastal resort recounted the ordeal to detectives yesterday.
The 20-year-old Coffs Harbour woman spent all day being interviewed by police and broke down as she detailed the allegations.
The woman is determined to pursue her alleged attackers - up to six have been accused of rape and police have interviewed four of them so far.
Police have obtained medical evidence which may support her claims. Four investigations are now under way including one by the NRL which has threatened to throw the Bulldogs out of the competition if its players are found guilty.
"We have the power to deregister players the NRL believes to be guilty of bringing the game into disrepute," NRL boss David Gallop said.
Deregistering means players cannot be employed by another club and effectively ends their careers. Mr Gallop said the league also could fine the Bulldogs up to $1 million for bringing the game into disrepute.
Detectives are expected to travel to Sydney today to interview Bulldogs players.
Last night the woman was taken to a safe house outside of Coffs Harbour where she was being comforted by family.
Police are looking into allegations up to six Bulldogs players assaulted the woman in the pool of the Pacific Bay Resort in the early hours of Sunday.
Yesterday official police records alleged one of the players admitted he had consensual sex with the woman while three others denied playing any role.
The victim told police the horrific attack included vaginal, anal and oral sex without her consent.
It emerged a cleaner helped her to a room and police and the ambulance service were called about 9am.
One Bulldogs player also showed concern and provided assistance.
A doctor was flown from Sydney and treated her for grazing, bruising and trauma.
DNA tests were taken which are currently at the police forensic laboratories.
The names of four players were offered to police and they were briefly interviewed before leaving the mid-north coast town on Sunday night.
The Bulldogs played Canberra in a trial match on Saturday night and many of the 25-man NRL squad hit the local nightspots.
The woman and her friend met some of the players in town. The alleged victim's friend went to the resort with a player but she had the 20-year-old's wallet.
The alleged victim reportedly accepted a lift with a player to the resort but could not find her friend.
She was then allegedly taken to the pool about 6am by up to eight Bulldogs players, pulled in and out of the pool and repeatedly assaulted by at least six players.
The Daily Telegraph
