Couple deny sexually assaulting teenage girl at party

A married couple have been accused of raping a teenage girl after giving her cannabis and alcohol in what prosecutors claimed was a "non-consensual threesome". Christopher Luke Hili and Lee Kathleen Hili pleaded not guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court on Monday to two counts of rape, one count of exposing a child to an indecent act and one count of exposing a child to an indecent film. Christopher Hili also pleaded not guilty to two counts of supplying a dangerous drug to a child. The matter then proceeded to a jury trial for the co-accused. In her opening statement, crown prosecutor Melissa Wilson said two 15-year-old girls had attended an evening party at the Hilis' "big house" near the Gold Coast in December 2021. "At one stage during the evening defendant Chris Hili rolled a joint of cannabis and offered it to (the girls) and they took that and they smoked it," Ms Wilson said. She said the girls also consumed alcohol, causing one of them to vomit and be taken downstairs to lie down. Ms Wilson said Christopher Hili offered the girl more cannabis while her friend was downstairs and Lee Hili started asking "a bit inappropriate" questions. "She asked if she was bisexual, how old she was. (The girl) responded that she was only 15 and not bisexual," Ms Wilson said. Ms Wilson said the girl was taken downstairs by the Hilis and she thought she was being taken to her sleeping friend but she says she was instead taken to the couple's bedroom. The girl said she passed out when Chris Hili started touching her and then woke up naked while he sexually assaulted her as Lee Hili stroked her hair. The girl said she cried and he told her to be quiet before passing out again and waking up to being assaulted while the Hilis had sex and a pornographic movie was playing on the bedroom's TV. Ms Wilson said Lee Hili had been accused of being a party to the offences by aiding and encouraging her husband. "Essentially they were both participants in a non-consensual threesome," Ms Wilson said. Lee Hili's barrister Gregory McGuire said it was not disputed that the girl had been in his couple's bed but that was only because his client had been trying to calm the girl down from a drunken and distressed state. "This young girl suffered from panic attacks, to the extent of often needing to call an ambulance," Mr McGuire said. He said the girl had changed her story over time and had at one point effectively admitted she did not remember anything at all. The alleged victim was due to have her testimony pre-recorded to be presented to the jury on Tuesday. The Hilis' bail was extended for the trial, which is due to run until Wednesday before Justice Paul Freeburn. Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028